, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Free ports
I think it's fair to say that if you look at the free-ports programme in England, it's different to the one we have in Wales. The parameters for the bids are different—that's because we did eventually have a sensible conversation between the two Governments…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Free ports
I will.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Free ports
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm grateful for this opportunity to update the Senedd on the free-ports programme in Wales. The Government is content to support the motion, subject to amendment 2. We want to be clear that we're not tied into a particular number of…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Free ports
Formally.
, Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion on the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill
We have constructive conversations with UK Ministers. We don't always end up agreeing and we've not reached agreement on this point. I reiterate, and to conclude: we cannot support consent for this Bill. I therefore ask Members to withhold consent for this…
, Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion on the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill
I thank Members for all of the various comments and questions that have been raised in the debate. On the policy through the different trade deals, our disagreement with the UK Government is clear. And I respect and understand why both Mabon ap Gwynfor and…
, Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion on the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I move the motion before us. I find it difficult in addressing, or disappointing in addressing, this motion, which relates to a Bill implementing the free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand, that we are yet again having to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Funnily enough, I am aware of nappies being turned into asphalt. It's not just something that another relatively new parent would be interested in, given the Member has two young children in his house; I remember the days fondly, and not so fondly at various…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Our Business Wales service provides businesses with access to a wide range of information, guidance and support, both financial and non-financial, to help grow businesses. Financial support between £1,000 and £10 million is available through the Development…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you for the question.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Well, it's a conversation we had with the sector about what best to do to support them to make choices, how they promote themselves. Some of this is done on a regional basis successfully. For example, it may make more sense for a visitor to know about…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Our strategy 'Welcome to Wales: Priorities for the visitor economy 2020-2025' sets out our vision and ambition for tourism. We support the sector through promoting Wales at home and abroad, through capital investment and our £50 million Wales tourism…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you for the comments and questions. You're right about the economic resilience fund. I was in a different role during the pandemic, but the reality is that, because we didn't spend the same money on our test, trace, protect programme and the way that we…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
We continue to do everything possible to support the SME sector throughout Wales through our progressive economic policies. These focus on better skills, better jobs and tackling inequality with the tools at our disposal. That includes working with our…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
No, that's absolutely not the vision of me individually, or, indeed, the Government. We have seen over £3.5 million of public investment in the site since 2012. We also have seen a range of activity, including remotely piloted aircraft systems and unmanned…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
We remain committed to supporting the aerospace centre. We continue to work closely with Gwynedd Council, the site operator and other partners to help attract investment to the site. We recognise its global potential to the space sector for Wales, and in…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you for the question.
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Questions to the Minister for Economy
Yes. I'm very happy to carry on working together with my officials, and the company, and counterparts in the UK Government if we can find an answer for the sites in both Newport and Tredegar. We want to see the steel sector have a healthy future. If we can't…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
There are investment choices being made in Holland—it's not a secret—around hydrogen as an alternative to blast furnace technology there. The challenge is that, if we don't see action taken by the UK Government to engage in that conversation, because they…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I'm seriously interested in maintaining that capability within the UK, and that will exist here. The challenge is that the £300 million offer for Tata to equalise the £300 million offer to British Steel—they're actually different scales of operation. And…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Yes, I'll certainly do that. And it's not just about meaningful investment, but you're right to point out that the industry itself recognises that it needs to chart a path to decarbonisation for a sustainable future. But, to do that, we shouldn't simply…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
The First Minister and I continue to engage with our key counterparts in the UK Government. I met with Ministers from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy last week, when I raised steel as an issue. We also engage with senior…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
We're certainly looking to progress as quickly as possible, and that's the challenge, because the environment around this has changed. The environment in terms of the mortgage market is in a different place now, I'm afraid. We're likely to see a change in…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Financial services are not a devolved matter. However we have an ambition to help improve access to local services, which is why we’re engaged with the Monmouthshire Building Society on a programme to try to regenerate community banking in a range of…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Decisions on scaling high-street banking back in Wales are ones that rest with the major retail banks. I applaud the efforts being made by a number of people, including those in Denbigh, to retain a bank branch. The Welsh Government will continue working with…
