Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:57 pm on 2 November 2021.
Diolch yn fawr, Deputy Llywydd, and I'll extend my thanks to the Minister for his statement. I agree with him about the importance of the steel industry; if we are to move towards a green economy, then that must include localised steel production. I'm sure, Minister, you've read the report overnight of a EU-US trade deal on steel, and it is absolutely vital that UK steel has the same access to that deal. So, I'd be very interested, Minister, in your thoughts, and what this means for the steel sector within Wales.
And just secondly and finally, Deputy Llywydd, the Minister again talks about skills quite heavily in his statement today, and if we are to build the next generation of green technology and products here in Wales, it's clear that we do need the right skills. So, perhaps you could tell us how confident you are that we are training and upskilling the right people to fulfil this need. And can you confirm to the Chamber today that the conversations are not just with employers, but they are with professional bodies, such as the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and also our trade union partners across Wales and the United Kingdom?