, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Economic Priorities and UK Government Relations
I thank the Minister for his statement today.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Economy
Are you concerned, Minister, that Holyhead is still in the design phase? I mean, we're two years after Brexit and we still have no idea really what's going on with BCPs in Wales. I accept it's a UK-wide issue, but Holyhead is the second busiest roll-on…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Economy
Thank you for that, Minister. If I can move to border control posts, I was wondering if the Minister could outline when he believes it will be possible to estimate the annual costs for running border control posts in Wales, as well as the costs to set up the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Economy
So, if I was to look for the figures for inward investment from Welsh Government, there is no handy one place, a one-stop shop to find that.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Economy
Thank you for that, Minister. If I could move to inward investment, £4 million is allocated to deliver the export action plan. Could the Minister confirm how much funding is specifically allocated to deliver the Government's inward investment priorities?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Economy
So, in terms of working with a reduced budget, I imagine that there's a need to prioritise where the Welsh Government focuses. How is decision making around what isn't and is a priority made?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Economy
Diolch, Gadeirydd. If I could turn to trade, the allocation for the export, trade and inward investment expenditure line is down compared to the final budget for 2022-23. I was just wondering if the Minister could indicate what he thinks that impact, in terms…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Economy
In terms of the success of this guarantee, it is, in my opinion, hinging on that retention element. With respect, I think young people know the advantages of going into certain sectors, they know the advantages of training and education, but, when we look at…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Economy
Diolch, Cadeirydd. Good morning, Minister. Good morning, all. It's really important, and I've said in the Chamber a number of times I'm totally supportive of the Government's objectives when it comes to the young person's guarantee. It's great that there's…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Diolch.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Right. And, as that data becomes more apparent or more—I'm trying to think of the right word—numerous, I should say, is there a possibility that that could be shared with both this committee and the Petitions Committee as we go forward?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
And in terms of some of the concerns around, well, to be fair, the only track in Wales, have there been any conversations with the Valleys track around their practices there in terms of vets at the races, for example?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
And as it currently stands with greyhound welfare, has that been reflected at all in the animal welfare plan sufficiently enough?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
—Jack Sargeant is Chair of the Petitions Committee, and the Petitions Committee has recently reported on greyhound racing. I know you've eagerly been awaiting its publication. I was just wondering, has the report had any influence yet on the Government's…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
And, actually, it doesn't happen very often, Chair, but I've got the Chairs of both the committees I sit on in the same committee room with me, and the reason I'm referring to that, of course, is—
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
So, that support is in the form of, essentially, conversations and working on, potentially, strategies—
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I'd argue that we're currently in the midst of a bit of a pet welfare crisis at the moment. We've got shelters full to the brim and struggling to cope with the amount of dogs that are coming through the door. We are having councils telling us that they're…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Diolch, Cadeirydd. The Minister will be aware of my particular interest in canine welfare.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Okay. Diolch.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
So, in terms of trying to get that value for money, then, what are the mechanisms, essentially, that you are using to review the budget?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
—bringing in those kids who will receive those free school meals. Knowing where their food comes from, I think, is going to be quite important as we go forward. We have heard a lot as well this morning from you that there is no more money, and that the budget…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Yes. I can see a lot of advantages to it, in terms of how it can run in tandem with the free school meals policy—
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Well, you mentioned, of course, the funding, and you have set out your objectives, in terms of what you hope the strategy will achieve. Do you think that that funding is going to be sufficient, in terms of reaching those objectives?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Okay. So, you mentioned—
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Are you able to give any indication in terms of how long that is going to be? In the private session—I probably shouldn't really be saying what we've been discussing in the private session—but I think we were all in agreement that, if projects are going to…
