, Plenary
Topical Questions
Well, I would just remind the Member of the points I've already made in relation to the answer I gave to Luke Fletcher. We are days—less than a week—into the term of a new Government, which brings with it a new level of commitment to steel making, to steel…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Yes, I can give John Griffiths the assurance that he is looking for. In the discussions that we have had as a Government throughout, we have looked at the effects of the planned changes in Port Talbot on Llanwern, on Trostre, on Shotton and Caerphilly and…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Let me be clear that we want to see a smooth and a just transition to more sustainable steel making in the future. That has been our position throughout. That continues to be our position. And, in fact, Jonathan Reynolds's comments this morning were not…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
I thank David Rees for that question. I do agree that's the right way forward, and the way he described it, as a transition that works for workers and for the community, is exactly what we want to see, and what we have already seen, in fact saw in the days…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Well, I’ll remind the Member: the general election was held last Thursday. The results came in on Friday. I most recently met with unions and the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, this morning, and with the Secretary of State for…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Both I and the First Minister have had discussions with the new UK Government about Tata Steel, and we look forward to working together with them closely going forward.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
I thank Mark Isherwood for his ingenuity in converting a press release into a policy in that question. As he absolutely knows, there is no sign-off at all for the funding committed to the north Wales transport infrastructure, which I think we would all accept…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
We've outlined our plan for improving the economy of Wales, and north Wales in particular in the context of this question, in our economic mission and regional economic framework. We are collaborating with our partners to showcase its unique advantages and to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
I know this is a question that the Member has pursued on a number of previous occasions in the Chamber, so I recognise his interest in it, and he is right—obviously, I won't comment on any particular planning application for the obvious reasons. But all…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Planning legislation, 'Future Wales: The National Plan' and 'Planning Policy Wales' provide a robust framework to ensure the impact of development on communities is considered fully in relation to decisions on applications for renewable energy.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Well, the Member talks about the pressure in particular on the retail sector. We're investing an additional £78 million to provide a fifth successive year of non-domestic rates relief for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses, building on almost £1…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Business rates relief has a positive effect on the economy. Our package of support, worth £384 million this year, has reduced or eliminated non-domestic rates liability for more than 100,000 properties. Less than 20 per cent of properties will attract full…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
I thank Joyce Watson for raising this as a question in the Senedd today. As a co-operator, and I know she shares this view as well, the ability to support employees to own the businesses in which they work is a really important part of that vision. And I pay…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Part of Social Business Wales, Employee Ownership Wales, provides fully funded bespoke advice to support employee ownership of businesses. There are now 75 employee-owned businesses in Wales, an increase of 38 since the start of this Senedd term.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
I don't think there's been any suggestion of that. Our policy as a Government is to support the principle of developing renewable and low-carbon energy from a range of technologies. He will know that from the point of view of planning and consenting, the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
I have not had any discussions with individual developers regarding large-scale wind projects at specific locations in Wales. I continue to engage with the renewable industry, through round-table discussions and through RenewableUK Cymru, to understand the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
I think the Member makes interesting points in relation to the devolution settlement and our capacity to take more decisions on energy here in Wales, which I would support. On the model that he touches on, which I think he described as a sovereign wealth fund…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
I had a very good conversation—an informal conversation, I should say—at that same conference, in fact, with the Crown Estate. I'm hoping to meet with them very shortly to discuss our needs in Wales, and to make sure that, in future leasing rounds, we are…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Let's hope that we do get the result tomorrow, which I very much hope for, and I hope the Member will encourage others to bring about that result as well, so that we can have that more collaborative approach, which I know that both he and I would support. We…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Many of the ways in which we support major events very much have in mind the impact that major events can have on the environment, and we work, often, with those organisations and companies who hold those events, and the venues that host them, in order to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
I think I'll just draw attention to the stark contrast between the picture the Member describes and the experience that those people who went to see Taylor Swift and to other concerts have been able to share. My Cabinet colleague the Cabinet Secretary for…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
I do support the work that my Cabinet colleague is doing in relation to this and he is working very hard to make sure that he holds accountable those agencies responsible and those who cause the pollution into our rivers and our seas. On his broader point…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Well, I'm as tired as the Member is of hearing the Welsh Conservatives run down Wales. They have no—[Interruption.] They have no—[Interruption.] They have no confidence in our national institutions, and they do not see the approach that a positive Government…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
The Member will know, of course, that the operations of the airport are at arm's length from the Government, as she would expect and I expect would approve of. She is, I think, misguided in her view in relation to the Welsh Government support for the airport…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Cardiff Airport is an essential element of Wales’s economic and transport infrastructure. The Welsh Government is committed to maintaining an airport in Wales because of the benefits it brings to the Welsh economy and its regional supply chain.
