Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy and Transport – in the Senedd at 1:54 pm on 22 January 2020.

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Photo of Helen Mary Jones Helen Mary Jones Plaid Cymru 1:54, 22 January 2020

I'm grateful to the Minister, both for his kind words with regard to my new portfolio and with regard to what he's told us about the position with Aston Martin. But I would submit that there are still some questions for which we need answers and that there are some concerns. I mean, the fact is that Aston Martin sales have fallen overall by 16 per cent from July 2019 to September 2019. The Welsh Government has pledged £18.8 million, which is a very substantial chunk of investment, and, of course, in return, as the Minister has said, Aston Martin has said that they will make the St Athan plant its home for electrification. But we're now seeing reports that the company will be scrapping the flagship electric car, and we need to know whether that is the case because we want, I'm sure, the Welsh Government investment to be supporting the green economy.

I just specifically want to ask the Minister, in the light of the 30-year guarantee given by the Welsh Government that will see Welsh taxpayers' money covering the rent for Aston Martin if they decide to leave the St Athan plant—and I very much hope that the Minister is right and that that will never happen, but if they were to do so—I think we need more transparency in terms of the arrangements and the commitments to Aston Martin, particularly with regard to the 30-year guarantee. What would the cost be to the public purse if Aston Martin did have to withdraw?