1. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government efforts to promote the food sector in Ynys Môn? OQ56632

Last month the £20 million expansion of Mona Island Dairy, backed by Welsh Government funding, was announced. The Welsh Government continues to promote the food and drink sector, and producers from Ynys Môn will have the opportunity to take part in our international showcase, Blas Cymru, later this year.

Thank you, Minister. You'll know that I have drawn attention on several occasions to the lack of appropriate property for food production in Ynys Môn. I've pushed for investment of that kind, and I've appreciated meetings with you and officials on this in the past. But we are still seeing company after company having to retrofit business units to make them appropriate for food production.

This is a sector that's very exciting on Ynys Môn. I visited Mona Island Dairy's new factory last week, and I'm very grateful to the Government for the support for that initiative. But let's use this as a springboard for the kind of investment that I'm calling for in premises where we can grow this sector—producing food and generating jobs in a sector that is so exciting in Ynys Môn. I offer again to collaborate with the Government to turn this into a reality.

Diolch. And as you know, we had a brief conversation, I think the last time we met in the Senedd; I'd be very happy to have a further meeting with you. Obviously, the Food Technology Centre in Llangefni is somewhere where we've explored this, and it is absolutely essential that you have the purpose-built units to which you refer, so that we can encourage further innovation. That's a conversation that I will continue to have with all three, actually, of our food technology centres here in Wales.

Diolch. Trade and industry leaders have welcomed the return of freeports to the UK, and food processing, confectionery, alcoholic drinks and textile sectors may stand to gain most. UK trade deals offer a boost to Welsh businesses, where, for example, Anglesey sea salt, Welsh lamb, Conwy mussels and the Vale of Clwyd Denbigh plum are among 15 iconic Welsh products that could be protected in Japan for the first time as part of the UK-Japan trade deal.

The UK Government is establishing 10 or more freeports around the UK, and wants to establish a freeport in each UK nation. This will require a joined-up approach, with businesses, communities, local authorities and the Welsh Government all coming on board. The UK freeport model encompasses a broad set of measures to stimulate economic activity, while creating jobs and having a regenerative effect on ports, local communities and economies. How would you therefore engage with the the Anglesey freeport steering group, with members from Ynys Môn and across north Wales working to develop an Anglesey Holyhead freeport proposal?    

Well, at present, no formal offer has been presented to the Welsh Government on a proposed Welsh freeport. But we have been absolutely clear that we cannot accept the proposal that a Welsh freeport would receive just £8 million in financial support while every freeport in England gets £25 million. I'm sure the Member would agree that's completely unacceptable. And Welsh Ministers did write to the UK Treasury, back in February, making that very clear. And we also set out conditions where a joint approach could be taken, but as yet we haven't received a response to that letter. So, it's not possible to take a decision on it unless we have a response from the UK Government.

I'm sure, again, you will agree that the Secretary of State's suggestion that the UK Government might choose to implement a freeport in Wales, without our agreement, represents yet another example of a top-down throwback to pre-devolution economic policy, where the message was, 'In Wales, you'll get what you're given.' And the UK Government need to work with us not against us.