, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Shared Prosperity and Levelling Up
Yes, I absolutely agree that this is a very poor way to try to deliver sustainable economic growth, and the annual nature of the funding choices makes no sense whatsoever if you want to deliver good value for money. It's a point that's not been made just by…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Shared Prosperity and Levelling Up
Thank you for the comments and questions. I completely agree that people in Wales have been let down by the approach of the Conservative Government. It's the Conservative Government, not the union, that is letting people down, in my view. I think the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Shared Prosperity and Levelling Up
Thank you for the two broad areas of questioning. I'll start with your final one, and apologies for not properly covering Luke Fletcher's question, in terms of the support for councils. It's what I was referring to in my statement. I want to be able to work…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Shared Prosperity and Levelling Up
Okay, thank you. On civil service jobs, there hasn't been any kind of sensible discussion with the UK Government on a whole range of subjects, and that includes civil service jobs relocation. We have seen some civil service jobs come into Wales, but they've…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Shared Prosperity and Levelling Up
Thank you for the comments and the questions. I just want to make a point about legacy funds, as Luke Fletcher mentioned them. One of the challenges in understanding what’s been claimed around replacement funds is that Conservative Ministers at the UK…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Shared Prosperity and Levelling Up
I thank the Member for his comments and questions. It's good to welcome Paul Davies back to the Chamber, and I look forward to engaging with him in the Chamber and, indeed, in the committee. I particularly look forward to the committee inquiry, where we can…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Shared Prosperity and Levelling Up
The Welsh Government has been denied any access to the shared prosperity fund for previously EU-funded national programmes, like Business Wales, apprenticeships and the Development Bank of Wales. That has meant extraordinarily difficult choices for our…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Shared Prosperity and Levelling Up
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. I am providing Members today with an update on our current understanding of the UK Government’s shared prosperity and levelling-up funds, and their impact on the economy and skills in Wales. For many years, ministerial…
, Plenary
Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal: A Wales tourism Bill
I think there are lots of positives that Go North Wales actually deliver, and when we look at what we do in different regions of Wales to promote Wales, I think there are good stories and learnings from each of us. I am, of course, aware of Jim Jones; he has…
, Plenary
Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal: A Wales tourism Bill
That’s part of what we look to listen to as well, because those businesses recognise they have an interest in seeing a community that survives and supports the sector. It’s why we have within our co-operation agreement the work we’re doing on the balance of…
, Plenary
Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal: A Wales tourism Bill
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you to Members for contributing to today's half-an-hour debate. It won't be a surprise that I disagree with the Member's essential proposal, but he's entitled to bring his proposal forward. That's part of what this Chamber…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Free-port Programme in Wales
Well, there is more of a practical conversation to take place now. So, I'm the lead Minister in this area, but, as I've said earlier, it does take in a range of other ministerial portfolios as well—the climate change Minister and the finance Minister being…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Free-port Programme in Wales
Well, not only do we have a freight strategy that we're developing, but I'd remind the Member again that we need to get through the next stage in the process. We need to understand whether the headline claims made in the bids—and they are good bids that we've…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Free-port Programme in Wales
Yes. On your final point, I'll of course make sure that north Wales Members are engaged. It's been one of the features, actually, that a range of partners from more than one party have been interested in both of the bids, and I want to try to maintain that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Free-port Programme in Wales
With respect, I think the Member is being consistent in his broad scepticism over free ports, but I think he's judging them on a model that has existed previously, and not the one we've been talking about, the one where we've got into the prospectus that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Free-port Programme in Wales
We're not going to be able to make a formal announcement on the basis of the free-port bid moving forward to the next stage. Understanding the level of economic activity that the free port can deliver—we'll have greater clarity on that once the outline…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Free-port Programme in Wales
Well, there'll still be customs arrangements in place; these won't be customs-free places. Part of the challenge will be, like I said, reliefs and incentives, rather than saying that rules simply don't apply. I have the fortunate responsibility within the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Free-port Programme in Wales
We've been very clear in the bidding process, and in going through all of these stages, that the bids have to be able to match that—we've been very clear. That's why the regard to the future generations and well-being Act is in the bidding process—you won't…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Free-port Programme in Wales
Thank you for the comments and questions. Look, on your point around the approach we took, we were very clear that parity had to be delivered for Wales or we wouldn’t be prepared to sign up to a free-ports programme. I think we wasted the first year in a…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Free-port Programme in Wales
Thank you for the comments and the couple of questions in there as well. I should start by saying that I wish Paul Davies well. I look forward to him returning to the Chamber. I also suspect he'll have sent a map to the leader of the Welsh Conservatives. I…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Free-port Programme in Wales
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. On 23 March, the Welsh Government and the UK Government jointly announced that the Celtic free port and the porthladd rhydd Ynys Môn Anglesey free port will proceed to the next stage of the Welsh free-ports programme…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
The overall assessment is that HS2 will have a negative consequence for the Welsh economy. That's not our assessment—that's the UK Government's own assessment. The delay, though, that's been announced in getting to the part of England where there might have…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
We're not yet in April 2023, unless you have abilities that I don't have access to. If you've got two hearts and you're a time lord, it would be good to tell us now. We are looking at what we've done, because you're right, there's been a significant…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
It was April 2021.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
We've taken account of the committee's report. I hope you will be able to see what that looks like. I expect to launch the retail delivery plan, which, as you know, has been co-designed by businesses, led by the Welsh Retail Consortium, and the trade union…
