7. What discussions is the Minister having with the Minister for Climate Change on promoting the economic benefits of offshore energy production in North Wales? OQ58717

I have regular conversations with my friend and colleague the Minister for Climate Change. We fully realise the economic benefits of proposed offshore energy projects in north Wales; this is significant for the whole of Wales. It is my responsibility to ensure that we try to maximise these opportunities for Wales, including those opportunities within the Celtic sea.

Thank you for your response, Minister. As you will know, I'm always interested in understanding the economic benefits, especially for my patch up in north Wales, in terms of offshore energy production. I'm sure, Minister, you'll agree with me that tidal energy has a great opportunity not just in supporting our climate, but also in bringing direct job opportunities and new investment into our local communities. This week, I had a very helpful meeting with TPGen24, whose technology uses a tidal lagoon-based system that harnesses and manipulates the immense power of our tidal ranges to generate green energy. I understand that they and others have engaged with the Welsh Government's tidal lagoon challenge, which, of course, is part of your programme for government, which I applaud in terms of its ambition in supporting ideas to make Wales a world centre of emerging tidal technology. I wonder, Minister, in light of their engagement with that challenge and other organisations' engagement with it, what discussions are you having with the climate change Minister regarding the progress of the tidal lagoon challenge, and how do you see the opportunities of tidal energy in terms of the economy here in Wales?

I think tidal energy has significant opportunities for Wales. Again, it's not just the power generation, but it's an area where there is a new technology and a new form of economic activity being developed, and I want to see Wales at the very leading edge of that. Of course, we've already invested £59 million of former structural funds to help progress matters in this area. There is more than one project. You'll be aware of Morlais as well, and the work we've done with them. Our challenge is how we take forward not just the tidal energy challenge, but then to understand where we get from demonstrator to commercial deployment, and the levers we have available to do that within the wider energy mix that we have the opportunity to see properly exploited for significant economic benefit. That's not just across north Wales, but, of course, there'll be tidal energy opportunities around the rest of our coastline as well. I look forward to myself or the climate change Minister giving a more purposive update when we're in a position to do so.

And finally, question 8, Peter Fox.