, 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…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I'm very grateful for the question. I think the circumstances that you've described in Ystrad Mynach really are a microcosm of what's been happening across Wales in the sense that 376 bank branches have closed in Wales since January 2015. That's an absolutely…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
We continue to press Cash Access UK, which leads on the development of shared banking hubs, to increase the pace of these in Wales. A total of 81 have been opened across the UK so far. Fifteen more are soon to be announced, with Monmouth included within the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I absolutely come from the same place as you on this. Improving productivity is not about making people work harder. It's about making sure that people work in the environments that they need in order to be productive, and also that the businesses that they…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
So, lots in that question. But I think I absolutely have to recognise the reference that you made to Tata, because, of course, the closure of blast furnace 4 and the remaining heavy-end assets at Port Talbot very shortly will bring to an end traditional steel…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I’m grateful for the question, and again for the welcome into post. It was really good to speak to you yesterday about your particular priorities and areas of expertise, recognising that we do have lots of areas that I’m sure we will work together on as well…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I’m grateful for the question and absolutely, along with you, recognise the importance of community benefits, and also I think recognise the importance of making sure that those are sustained into the future. So, it’s not, as you say, necessarily one-off…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
First of all, I’d say thank you very much for the invitation to join you on Friday. I’m sorry that I’m not able to, due to a previous engagement, but I was very grateful for the invitation and I will absolutely make a point of visiting at another point…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
Well, first of all, I will start off by thanking Sam Kurtz very much for the warm welcome to the role, and I do very much look forward to working with you, and, also, to meet with Luke Fletcher as well. I know that there will be plenty of times when we have…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
Well, I just begin by reiterating that we are very focused on delivering the project in its entirety, and critical to that is the £25 million that the Welsh Government was able to provide back in March 2021, which enables the project to move forward. In terms…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I'd be absolutely more than happy to reaffirm the Welsh Government's commitment to the project, and of course to recognise Lesley Griffiths's long-standing championing of this as well. Our enthusiasm for this is unquestionable. We do know that Wrexham AFC has…
