Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy and Transport and North Wales – in the Senedd at 2:03 pm on 7 October 2020.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 2:03, 7 October 2020

Well, I'd like to thank the Member for his question and, again, stress the importance of our recently published manufacturing plan; that covers those areas of growth in engineering that the Member has asked about. He has until the middle of the month to make his views known on the manufacturing plan, but there are opportunities for growth, of that there is no doubt. 

Today, I've learnt about huge opportunities associated with jobs in the floating offshore wind industry, which could be of major benefit to many parts of Wales; opportunities concerning logistics hubs and offsite manufacturing; and also opportunities in terms of advanced electronics. The Welsh Government is taking forward—. As an example of how we are backing these opportunities up with action, we are taking forward plans for an advanced technology research centre, which will focus on advanced electronics and provide many opportunities for engineers and businesses within the advanced electronics field.

I am confident that as a result of the Welsh Government's focus on the manufacturing sector—our dedication to manufacturing in Wales and to engineering in Wales—that we can emerge from coronavirus in a position of strength. But, it's also vital that we work as a partner to the UK Government in refreshing the UK industrial strategy, and that we draw down a greater share of UK Research and Innovation funding. It is a tragic fact that too much of that funding—four times as much, per head of population in Wales—goes to the south-east of England. There is a golden triangle that, for years and years, has taken the lion's share of research and innovation funding. And, as part of the UK Government's aspirations to build back better, to level up, research and development and innovation spend is a crucially important factor.