Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:44 pm on 22 October 2019.
Well, let's be clear, First Minister—since the Welsh Government purchased Cardiff Airport back in 2013, it has already invested over £90 million of public money. Now, with this extra £21 million, that's twice the amount that the Government paid for it, and what have been the results? Yes, passenger numbers are increasing, but not above the 2007 levels. However, even with the increase in passenger numbers, the airport continues to make a loss. In its latest financial statement, the airport revealed that its losses have increased to £5.71 million. Now, in my former profession, First Minister, if a business case came to me with these figures I would want to see a clear plan of how it could make its way back into profit and the viability of the business before providing further loan facilities. The airport currently owes £38.2 million, and yet your Government is extending this by £21.2 million when the airport is clearly losing millions of pounds. What business plan—what business plan—has your Government received to convince you that this loan facility is appropriate and that this is the best use of taxpayers' money? And can you reassure the people of Wales that this is not just offering a blank cheque to the airport and that this money will ultimately be repaid to the Welsh taxpayer?