, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Green economy inquiry: Panel 9 - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
On the second point, there are definitely things we can learn from elsewhere, but there are things that elsewhere can learn from us as well. It's important to recognise that, I think. Some of the discussions I was having at the British-Irish Council at the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Green economy inquiry: Panel 9 - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Well, I think there are two points. The pipeline point is actually a very good point. I was saying earlier, in a sense, the challenge isn't a lack of resource in the sector. I think there is an eagerness to invest, which I think is a good thing, because…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Green economy inquiry: Panel 9 - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
I think it's probably fair to say that RenewableUK would make the demand of all parts of the UK to be doing more, wouldn't they, I would have thought. Certainly, I would be making that case if I was them. And there's much more opportunity for all parts of the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Green economy inquiry: Panel 9 - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Well, I was at the launch of the first one in Barry last week—I'm not sure if that's gone public yet, but in anticipation of that. There's one in Barry, one in Llantrisant, Milford Haven, Deeside, Wrexham and Newport; they're the current areas in scope. We've…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Green economy inquiry: Panel 9 - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Yes. There are ongoing discussions, which Ed and others are leading on, with the sector. The purpose of this is to respond, if you like, to the points that came through from the deep-dive. But we've been advocating for this for some time. I think the Scottish…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Green economy inquiry: Panel 9 - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
We're already very engaged, as I've just said. So, we have the offshore energy alliance in the north, the Celtic sea cluster, the Celtic sea alliance, in the south-west, we've got the Marine Energy Wales activity right across Wales. We had a deep-dive…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Green economy inquiry: Panel 9 - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Well, I actually had a good round-table at the conference I was at in Manchester last week with people from the sector in many, many different ways, and there was a strong recognition, I think, that Wales has a very good offer indeed in relation to renewable…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Green economy inquiry: Panel 9 - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
I have Aine Gawthorpe, who is the deputy director for industrial transformation and foundational economy; Neil Surman, who is the deputy director for skills; and Ed Sherriff, who is the deputy director for energy.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Green economy inquiry: Panel 9 - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Certainly.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Well, we've continued with a significant level of funding, and, as you know, the planned reduction that we feared we would have to make in the budget this year, we were able to reverse that reduction, so, in the 2024-25 financial year, we're investing over…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Yes, it is.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
I am very clear that an incoming Labour Government will want to move that forward very quickly.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Indeed.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Absolutely.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Well, how we got involved in identifying the priorities is by participating fully in the board's discussion and decision making around that, which—. You will recall that discussion. I think the transition board needs to work more effectively than it's been…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
No. We want all companies to respect the rights of workers and that includes the right to take action—workers don't take that decision lightly, as we all know. We've all seen the announcement last week, at the end of last week, by Unite. I have a discussion…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Well, we will wait to see how those discussions unfold with an incoming Labour Government.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Okay. Well, I don't think there's any practical—. No-one has articulated, I think, a persuasive way in which that could work in the context of the current situation. And I think it's really important that we work with Tata, work with the steel unions and make…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Yes.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
And how would that stick work?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Well, look, we've had this discussion many times in the Chamber and I don't think I've got anything to add to the points I've made to you in the Chamber. I have no objection as a principle to Governments taking a stake in businesses where that is the right…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
I think Tata recognise that an incoming Labour Government will be able to operate as a Government and have a different kind of conversation with steel producers than it's able to have as an opposition. I think that's a perfectly reasonable position, and I…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Well, there's an absolute commitment by a Government, which is significantly greater than that of the current Government.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Well, the specific answer to your question is: no, I don't think it's about that. And I think a commitment of £3 billion is a very significant commitment. How that is deployed is a matter for a Government that's been elected to discuss and engage with the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial scrutiny—Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Well, Tata's position has been publicly stated and is clear. We met with them on 10 June, including shadow Ministers from the Labour Party as well, to make the case for not making those irreversible decisions until after the election, but you will have seen…
