, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Stronger Regional Economies
Well, on the roads review, as you know, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change is more than happy to answer questions about the policy he's leading on behalf of the Government. Also, in terms of housing, I think that the Minister for Climate Change is very…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Stronger Regional Economies
Yes, on your second point about progress, yes, I do expect to be able to share reports with the Senedd and with committees on the sort of progress we're making. On your first point, about the Industrial Communities Alliance, more and better jobs closer to…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Stronger Regional Economies
Yes, sorry, yes. And actually, I expect to meet the ambitions we set out to double the size of the co-op economy in Wales. The conversations that I committed to have with Huw Irranca-Davies following a previous debate with him following a legislative proposal…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Stronger Regional Economies
To answer as briefly as possible, given the Deputy Presiding Officer's instructions: yes, I do believe we need to continue to invest in infrastructure, including digital infrastructure, to enable what are not so much new ways of working, but standard ways of…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Stronger Regional Economies
What I think will be different this time is that I think we'll want to be able to come back to point out the improvement in the regional economy and what it means not just for jobs, but in terms of pay and conditions as well, because we're looking to see real…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Stronger Regional Economies
I've had a number of very constructive conversations with my ministerial colleague Rebecca Evans about the role of regional economic development and CJCs and making sure that the legislation that the Senedd passed in the last term is realised. I think there's…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Stronger Regional Economies
Thank you for the questions and comments. On your starting point about local services and what it means for rural economies, I recognise that the point is well made, both in the previous debate around Banc Cambria and your consistent interest in this area. I…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Stronger Regional Economies
Okay, I'll take them in reverse order. On higher education, actually, one of our challenges is, and has always been, ever since I've been a Member—I'd like to think that higher education has got better at this as well—about the research and the excellence…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Stronger Regional Economies
Thank you for the series of questions. On your starting point, I believe there is a strong and progressive case to be made for the future of the union, but it won't be made by the sort of attempts to centralise and hijack powers and money away from devolved…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Stronger Regional Economies
Thank you for the series of comments and questions within those. I'll take on board what the Deputy Llywydd asked. In terms of the broad sweep of what the Member has been saying, I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding about the regional economic…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Stronger Regional Economies
Thank you, Llywydd. I'm pleased to provide Members with an update today on the progress that this Government has made with partners to help build stronger regional economies across Wales. As part of my statement I will reflect on the challenges that we…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Supporting the creation of a Community Bank for Wales
Well, if Banc Cambria were in any doubt about Members keenness for there to be a successful community bank for Wales with a proper presence in each constituency and communities within those constituencies, they can be in no doubt after the contributions of…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Supporting the creation of a Community Bank for Wales
Indeed, I do understand that there are people who don't live in the Member's constituency, but I praise him for mentioning a number of his constituency towns. Look, there is a real challenge, and the Member highlights it again, about town-centre…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Supporting the creation of a Community Bank for Wales
Thank you. What we're doing in Wales with the community bank is a novel policy approach that's not been successful anywhere else. Banking hubs are piloting what they might do, and the Member is right to highlight them as part of the answer for the future. So…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Supporting the creation of a Community Bank for Wales
That's a fair question, and, look, what we're looking at is, we're looking at something that would be a proper investment proposal on a commercial basis. So, it's not as if we're looking to provide preferential lines of credit; it's about finding a partner…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Supporting the creation of a Community Bank for Wales
Thank you, and thank you again for the broad welcome. And the point about consultation and the potential for new branches to be a real catalyst for high-street regeneration as well as community wealth, that's a point that I know Members across the Chamber are…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Supporting the creation of a Community Bank for Wales
Well, I'm sure the good people at Banc Cambria will have heard you before today, as well as today, and I know that they’ll be taking an interest in today’s debate across the Senedd. Look, we expect to receive an investment proposal over the next calendar…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Supporting the creation of a Community Bank for Wales
Thank you for the questions and comments. I agree with your points about the challenge of it's not just about branch services, but about access to cash services as well—not just ATMs but, in particular, free-to-use ATMS as well. Part of the drive behind this…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Supporting the creation of a Community Bank for Wales
Thank you for the extensive series of questions. If I can start off by saying that I think today is a really big and important day: to have an established financial institution confirming in public that it is looking to develop the proposal in partnership and…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Supporting the creation of a Community Bank for Wales
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. The UK has one of the least diverse retail banking systems in Europe. It is dominated by a small number of very large banks. These banks operate according to a traditional shareholder value business model that seeks to maximise…
, Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion on the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill
Thank you. Taking the point that Alun Davies has made on behalf of the legislation and justice committee, that was a concern that the Government had as well, but we do believe that, with the amendments that have now been inserted, it does limit the ability of…
, Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion on the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I am happy to move the legislative consent motion before the Senedd today. I had previously advised the Senedd not to give its consent to the motion before us, because the Bill as originally drafted contained a reservation…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Young Person’s Guarantee
Yes, I'm happy to do so. I did actually deal with Paul Davies's question, in that I indicated that I'd have a further announcement to make on the detail of that support, but I also indicated that I was looking at previous practice that had had some success on…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Young Person’s Guarantee
Thank you for the question. I think it's a very practical example of where we're already engaged in supporting a major employer, but looking at a sector that provides really well-paid jobs. The investment we've continually made in broadly more skills, and I'm…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Young Person’s Guarantee
I remember many debates around the role of school, and by the time people are of school leaving age, the fact that many of your patterns for life are already set: your expectations about who you are, for better or for worse, but crucially also, the way you…
