6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the impact of coronavirus on the economy of South Wales East? OQ56047

Llywydd, an analysis by the Bank of England and the Office for Budget Responsibility demonstrates the damaging impact of coronavirus on our economy, including that of south-east Wales. Both bodies suggest a relatively rapid rebound in the second quarter of 2021, provided that that is not undone by the catastrophe of a 'no deal' Brexit. 

I thank the Minister for that answer. First Minister, the Welsh Government were highly successful in bringing the Spanish train manufacturing company CAF to South Wales East, with the potential to bring 300-plus skilled engineering jobs to the area. CAF secured a contract to supply 77 state-of-the-art diesel multiple units to Transport for Wales. Delivery was scheduled for 2022. Could the Minister update us as to whether the COVID crisis has delayed supply of these units?

Well, Llywydd, first of all, let me say that I think the fact that CAF are now operating out of south-east Wales is a huge benefit to Wales. I was lucky enough to be able to meet the whole of the board of CAF when they visited Wales. They'd come from a visit to one of their investments in the United States of America, and they said to me that the thing that they were most struck by, visiting Wales, was the strong sense of attachment to the company that the workforce here demonstrated during their visit. That sense of a loyal, committed highly skilled workforce, and they were hugely complimentary of it.

Coronavirus has had an enormous impact on the rail sector. The Welsh Government is providing over £100 million simply to sustain that part of our public transport network during these extraordinarily difficult days. We do look forward to the point where the delivery of new rolling stock to Wales will allow us to get back to the plan that we had originally set out, which, as the Member knows, is to improve services, to create a new metro system here in south Wales and to provide the travelling public with the sort of experience that they look for and deserve. Whether the plans are capable of being implemented to the original timetable is something that we continue to discuss very regularly with Transport for Wales. I had a meeting with them myself only this week, and that can only really be finally determined as we see, as we hope we will, a recovery in the economy next year, allowing passengers to return to the railway safely and the revenues that they bring with them to flow into the industry.