4. Statement by the Minister for Economy: Stronger Regional Economies

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:39 pm on 18 January 2022.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 3:39, 18 January 2022

Okay, I'll take them in reverse order. On higher education, actually, one of our challenges is, and has always been, ever since I've been a Member—I'd like to think that higher education has got better at this as well—about the research and the excellence they produce and how that gets applied into the economy. So, the difference between research, development, innovation and application to improve businesses as well. We know it's a key factor. And actually, to be fair to—. Look, for all the differences we have with the UK Government that we advertise regularly, the headline pledge to put more money into research, development and innovation is a very good thing and we would want to see that done. The challenge is making sure that it's not just that the money goes and it doesn't simply ends up in the golden triangle around Oxbridge and London. The danger there is that's a bad thing for England, never mind the rest of the UK. And actually, as our own chief scientific adviser has shown, the quality of Welsh research and our science base is actually really good. So, it isn't even as if you could say that it's an investment that is driven solely by quality. So, there is a real need to ensure that, in funds that are supposedly whole-UK funds, Wales gets a proper share of those as well, as well as what we need to do with our own higher education sector and the constant challenge we have there about ensuring that, regardless of UK activity, we demand and expect more from our higher education sectors. And actually, I think around Swansea, there are good examples of a university that, over time, has definitely shifted its mission into greater output. If you look at the steel sector, they're very pleased with the work they get to do with Swansea University and its advanced metals research as well.

I think the same about IT and, more broadly, digital ways of working. We've got lots of opportunities to benefit every region of Wales. It's not just about enabling people to work in different ways, it is about wholly redesigning systems. And I agree with you, we do have particular strengths in Wales. I had a very interesting meeting about opportunities around Newport and what that might mean and about data centres and other activity that could lead to even greater economic development opportunity. So, I definitely think it's something you would expect to see in each region, and for us then to understand where our greatest opportunities exist in Wales.

And finally, on life sciences, I think we already punch above our weight in Wales when it comes to life sciences, when you look at the research that takes place and the jobs and the activity. This is a sector where most of the jobs are well-paid jobs with good terms and conditions. And the life sciences hub that we have near the Senedd building that—. Hopefully, when times return to be more normal, people will have opportunities to go in and see and meet people there. Actually, it's been I think one of the smartest investment choices we've made, in designing and bringing people together, and it's given a real focus to what life sciences can do. Not just in developing better uses for deployment across health and care, but the real economic return that goes alongside. I should just, with a look backwards—. The way that the life sciences hub has operated, to have a gate for us to get through for new technologies and new ways of working through the pandemic, has really reinforced the value of what we've put together there. When we had a meeting with Irish Ministers from the Republic, they were particularly interested in what we had chosen to do and the value from it. So, we may not always recognise it ourselves in Wales, but we do already have something that I think we can be really proud of, and I look forward to expecting more in the future.

I should say though, Deputy Llywydd, I wasn't quite aware that our regions matched so neatly to ancient kingdoms. It's not something that appears in my ministerial speaking notes, but I'm grateful to Mr Hedges for pointing that out.