Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:46 pm on 22 October 2019.

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Photo of Paul Davies Paul Davies Conservative 1:46, 22 October 2019

Well, let me remind the First Minister that I'm not the only person who thinks that this situation needs to be turned around and that you must now look at introducing a different business model to make this airport successful after six years of nationalisation. Your very own director general for economy, skills and natural resources recently made it clear that, in order for it to be, or revert to be, a wholly commercial endeavour, its business model would need to be very different. But it seems to me—[Interruption.]—it seems to me that you carry on doing the same things hoping for a different outcome by offering a blank cheque.

Now, First Minister, people will argue that this additional loan for the airport could have been spent on funding our vital public services. Twenty-one million pounds indeed could go a long way—£21 million could help pay for the salaries of more than 400 GPs, or nearly 900 nurses, or indeed 700 teachers. Your Government's plan for the airport relies solely on increased passenger numbers, and yet, whilst passenger numbers are slowly increasing, the airport's losses continue to grow faster. That does not make any sense. More passengers should mean more income for the airport. Why is it therefore going wrong, First Minister, and is your Government still aiming to return this airport to private ownership, and, if so, what target date have you set to achieve this?