Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:50 pm on 30 September 2020.
Like so many energy developments, it's supported by expertise from School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University, a school with a reputation for international excellence, and a school located in Menai Bridge on Anglesey. And may I thank the Government here for a positive response to my calls for a renewed agreement with the university to secure the future for their research vessel, the Prince Madog? There will be need for further support for this resource in years to come, which is important not only to developments on Anglesey, but to our national energy ambitions too.
Now, to return to the land, and to Gaerwen, where the M-Sparc science park, again part of Bangor University, shows what ambition can deliver. And I pay tribute to my predecessor, Ieuan Wyn Jones, for delivering that. The fact that M-Sparc has filled so quickly with innovators who have decided that their future is on Anglesey is an inspiration. I look forward to seeing the next phase of the development, and the following phase, as a statement of confidence in our hi-tech and innovative future on the island.
One development that we don't yet have a physical location for, but one that I'm looking forward to see delivered by a Plaid Cymru Government, is the headquarters of a new public energy body, Ynni Cymru, a body that can offer so much to us—co-ordinating energy developments, leading on the creation of a truly green Wales, including a national retrofitting programme, and trying to drive clean energy prices down for the people of Wales. And where better than the energy island to house this new body?
Here's another energy development that Ynni Cymru could help to develop. There is some very exciting work happening under the auspices of Menter Môn again, entitled 'hydrogen island'. Now, I led a debate in the Senedd in February outlining the benefits of hydrogen in the decarbonisation agenda on the day of the launch of the new Wales Hydrogen Trade Association. Well, already, through the work of hydrogen Môn, we are seeing major scope to develop hydrogen on the island, using clean energy to produce it, produced locally. Again, I ask you, Minister, to consider how the Welsh Government can help to deliver this, and there are a raft of partners ready to support this.
But, whilst there is huge potential in the energy sector, let me bring you back to those windmills I mentioned. The tradition of food production on Anglesey is still strong and growing. I've been trying to persuade the Government over the last few years to develop a major food production facility in Anglesey—it's a perfect development for us. And although I've been discussing this issue with the Minister for environment and rural affairs, I would like to draw you in as the Minister for economy too. What's happening at the moment is that an impressive number of companies—more and more companies indeed—have been spending on converting other business premises into appropriate places for food production. I am still convinced that it would be better to prepare bespoke properties for them, to create a hub, or even hubs, for food production, which could also be a shop window for the sector too. The food technology centre at Coleg Menai is exceptional, it's grown recently, and we should be creating the spaces locally and providing the support to businesses starting their journey, so that they can grow and develop and employ people on Anglesey.
Of course, the food production industry goes hand in hand with the agricultural sector in Anglesey, which is second to none. It helps to create that green image—an image that's so important in terms of tourism too. Now, I don't have time to focus too much on tourism here, but I will say that it is hugely important to us. What I will also say is how important it is to create a tourism industry that is truly sustainable economically, environmentally and culturally, and also sustainable in terms of being sensitive to the fragility of our housing market, a very topical issue at the moment. I'm truly pleased to see what feels like a real debate starting on that within the tourism sector in Anglesey and beyond. I think now is the time for that to happen.
Returning to agriculture, we are facing one of the biggest challenges that we have faced, and that is our departure from the European Union. I was amazed to see the Conservative Anglesey MP voting against amendments to the Agriculture Bill in the Commons recently that would have helped to protect the interests of farmers in Anglesey as we depart the European Union. The amendments would have made sure that agricultural imports under new trade agreements had to meet the same high standards as the farmers of Anglesey. By rejecting such amendments, she undermined the farmers that she is representing. That, of course, is on top of fears of losing markets because of Brexit.
And Brexit brings me to the port of Holyhead. Trade through the port grew incredibly quickly after the creation of the European single market. Holyhead is the second largest roll-on, roll-off port in Britain. It has shaped the economy and character of the area—over 1,000 people are directly employed and many more indirectly. And there is a real nervousness in looking at clause 40 of the internal market Bill and the likely impact that that will have on the flow of trade coming from Northern Ireland at the moment—a third of the traffic in total—that would move perhaps to England or even to Scotland.
If difficulties and paperwork and delays happen—. They talk about developments in Kent on the news all the time, but there's hardly any talk about developing resources in Holyhead, and there are only weeks to go until departure. It tells you everything about the attitude of the UK Government towards the port of Holyhead. These things do fill me and the people of Anglesey with dread, and we need a solution. But I will do everything I can to urge the Welsh and UK Governments to ensure that we have a prosperous future, despite Brexit.
Now, to conclude, Llywydd, very good news on Anglesey last weekend—we succeeded in attracting the Island Games to Anglesey in 2025, or perhaps a year or two later, depending on COVID. They are games that are very happy; they draw thousands of sportspeople from islands across the world to one of the biggest events of its kind in the world in terms of multisports. I'm very grateful to the Government for pledging its support for that, and also Anglesey council. There's been a small group of us as a committee that have been working hard to reach this point, and I would like to thank the Island Games volunteers, who have worked so very hard.
But, in these parlous times, it's good to have something to look forward to, and it will be something for us as a community in Anglesey to look forward to. And the message today, with the right support from Government, and with a spirit of enterprise: there is a very bright economic future that we can look forward to on Anglesey.