Supporting the Economy

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:57 pm on 5 November 2019.

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Photo of Russell George Russell George Conservative 1:57, 5 November 2019

First Minister, you'll no doubt agree with me that having a thriving Cardiff Airport is essential for the south Wales economy. Now, the loans given to the airport has now increased to more than £50 million, nearly as much as it cost to buy the airport back in 2013, and the losses made to the airport continue to grow. Your predecessor said, First Minister, that it was always the Welsh Government's intention to return the airport to the private sector. You recently confirmed that this isn't your position. If I've got that wrong, then my question is to ask for clarification. Is it now the intention of the Welsh Government to run the airport for the long term, or are you still actively exploring the business models to get the airport into a position to turn it into the private sector? And if you have taken a different position to your predecessor, can you explain why that is the case?