, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Economic Growth
I'm very grateful to Russell George for raising that in the Chamber and also grateful for the opportunity that we had to discuss this outside of the Chamber as well today, given the importance and the urgency of this. It is disappointing news and a very…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Economic Growth
I’m really grateful for those questions. I would just say that the Welsh Government is really supportive of the agenda that is set out in the UK Government’s plan to make work pay, and also of course the proposed employment rights Bill. We have had some…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Economic Growth
I'm very grateful for those questions and comments today. Perhaps I was remiss in not referring to some of the progress that has been made since devolution in my response to the first comments this afternoon, because the long-run trend for the employment rate…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Economic Growth
I'm very grateful to Sam Kurtz for his comments this afternoon, and I will start off, as he did, by recognising the absolutely rich tapestry of sectors that we have here in Wales. Some of them, I think, really do put us on the world stage. I had the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Economic Growth
Thank you. I'm pleased to update the Senedd on the progress being made to deliver economic growth. I am delighted to take up the economy portfolio, which together with planning and energy provides a unique opportunity to deliver the First Minister’s priority…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Tata Steel
So, I do agree that there will be time to look back and learn, but I'm not entirely sure that that moment is today. Today is about trying to set out the support that is available to people who are affected either personally or in the supply chain. And that I…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Tata Steel
That's an excellent point well made, in the sense that this is the future of people in Port Talbot, and it's for them to create their future, but we have to be there to enable and support that as well. I think that the local economic action plan has looked at…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Tata Steel
I'm very grateful to Mike for those questions, and just would recognise, as he said, that he is a former steelworker himself, and I know that, as a research scientist for British Steel, he will have much more direct experience in this space than any of us…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Tata Steel
I'm very grateful for those questions. During the transition, Tata has publicly confirmed supplies of steel to customers will be safeguarded with downstream mills and processing sites using substrates sourced from Tata Steel's global operations and other key…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Tata Steel
I'm afraid I can only repeat what I said in relation to the issues raised by your colleague Luke Fletcher in relation to nationalisation. There is just no way that this Welsh Government could've nationalised the steel industry—[Interruption.] I am standing…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Tata Steel
I'm very grateful to David Rees for those questions and also for the meetings that we've had to discuss his concerns about the community that he represents. These are absolutely, I think, the things that, if I was working in Tata and I had family in Tata, I…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Tata Steel
I do of course understand why people are angry and frustrated at the point we’ve got to now. We supported the unions’ proposals in terms of that just transition, but that’s not where we are. I will say that I can’t see a single place where this Welsh…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Tata Steel
Well, I hope Tom Giffard will reflect on the tone of his contribution in the Chamber this afternoon. I very much regret it, and I hope that he will come to, too. I think that it was very ill advised to talk of jubilation at a time like this, which is so sad…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Tata Steel
We are also very mindful about the impact that these changes will have on people’s mental health. Information on the support available is included on the online Neath Port Talbot Council information hub, which has a direct link to the Sorted:Supported…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Tata Steel
Diolch. Yesterday saw the end of blast furnace steel making at Port Talbot with the cessation of a number of operations, including blast furnace 4. This marks the end of a long and important era in our nation's history. Blast furnace steel making has been…
, Plenary
Short Debate: It’s the economy stupid!: How can devolution make it work for workers and Wales?
Our Business Wales and Development Bank of Wales services provide sustainable, effective support and finance, and our services for small businesses are close enough to understand local economies and the needs of entrepreneurs, and are big enough to make an…
, Plenary
Short Debate: It’s the economy stupid!: How can devolution make it work for workers and Wales?
Thank you very much, and thank you to Hannah Blythyn for raising this short debate today on the importance of economic growth and workers' rights. In my new ministerial role, I'm really clear on the need to utilise cross-Government powers in the economy…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I'm really grateful for the question and the opportunity to highlight the importance of green jobs and green growth for all parts of Wales, particularly those that have that very industrial heritage, because they can absolutely be at the forefront of the next…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
There are enormous net-zero opportunities across Wales to support business growth and to develop new technologies. We recognise the importance of creating a pipeline of skilled and talented individuals, which was one of the seven key priorities within the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I'd be more than happy to meet with Rhun ap Iorwerth to talk in a bit more detail about this. I do remember, I think, a short debate that the Member championed in the Senedd quite some time ago, and even at that point, I think there was significant potential…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
The future of Port Talbot is absolutely critical, and despite the sad news at the moment and what that means for the workforce at Tata, I think that there is a really exciting and bright future for Port Talbot. You can see our long-term commitment in our…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I'm very grateful for the question, and I think I would recognise the way in which Mike Hedges has categorised and described the enterprise zones of the 1980s. I know that he has big concerns about how they drew investment out from city centres and the impact…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
Over several years, the Welsh Government-designated enterprise zones have continued to deliver against a challenging economic backdrop. Numerous jobs have been supported across the zones, while public sector investment has enabled a wide range of…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
Yes, thank you very much for raising that. I think that that's really recognised by the movement behind the banking hubs, in the sense of the importance of them in communities right across Wales. I know that Catherine Fookes will be really pleased with the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I'm grateful for the question and I recognise, as you do, the importance of those hubs and that they can provide a positive alternative. So, these are not things that the Welsh Government is either responsible for or funds directly, but we will absolutely be…
