8. What is the Welsh Government doing to support the offshore energy sector? OQ58160

Thank you very much to Paul Davies, Llywydd. We support the sector through direct funding for research in nascent technologies and infrastructure investment. We work with the industry to provide a consenting regime that is supportive of the sector, while also meeting our environmental obligations. We co-operate with partners to secure the skills needed for the jobs of the future.

I'm grateful to you for that response. In order to provide floating offshore wind energy, and for Wales to deliver the economic, social and environmental benefits available, we need marine planning reforms to deliver projects as soon as possible. Indeed, a simpler process for marine planning would mean that projects such as the Erebus project by Blue Gem Wind, which will be off the Pembrokeshire coast, could be delivered before far larger projects in other parts of the UK. I do understand that there is a commitment to reduce timetables for planning decisions to 12 months, which has been put in place in other parts of the UK. So, can you tell us what the Welsh Government is doing to ensure that timely planning consent is given for these projects in Wales, so that Wales doesn't lose out as compared to other parts of the UK?

I thank Paul Davies for those additional questions. I had an opportunity to read his contribution after the statement made by Vaughan Gething back in May, and I do agree that it is important for us to have a planning system here in Wales that is supportive of the sector, but also respects the environmental obligations that we have, and that's difficult. I've had more than one meeting; I had a meeting with Lesley Griffiths and the sector, and with the third sector, which is part of this process here in Wales.

I want to see a future where companies can come to Wales and can have certainty about the system and where they can help us to find the important evidence when we're talking about new ways of creating marine energy. I want to see that, when we respect the environmental obligations, but I do agree with the Member that it's important for us here in Wales to be a place where companies can come and can know that we will have a system that is going to help them in the important work that they want to do about the things that are going to be so important for us in the future.

I thank the First Minister.