Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy and Transport – in the Senedd at 1:57 pm on 22 January 2020.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 1:57, 22 January 2020

Look, we have heard it now. Plaid Cymru would not have supported an investment in Aston Martin Lagonda. We've heard it here. It's very, very clear: Plaid Cymru would not have invested in 1,000 jobs in a flagship company for the Welsh economy. I think it's important now that the people of Wales recognise that that is Plaid Cymru's position. You would have spent the money elsewhere.

We have already trebled the value of the foundational economy fund, a fund that is designed to drive innovation in the foundational economy, and it does sound to me that rather than welcome—which I still haven't heard—Aston Martin to Wales, there is a wish that it will fail. Now, the fact of the matter is that the Aston Martin Lagonda brand has been with us for decades upon decades. It's regarded globally as one of the highest quality automotive brands in existence, and far from—[Interruption.] It is good news. It is good news, and Members around this Chamber should start welcoming the fact that we have record employment figures in this country, that we have record low unemployment figures in this country, that the productivity rate of this country is rising faster than the UK, and people should stop talking down Wales.