, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Local Growth Fund
Okay, thank you. Alun.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Local Growth Fund
You highlighted the point about the consultation, Cabinet Secretary. I appreciate you are digesting those consultation responses at the moment, but from your early analysis of the responses, is there anything that stands out in those responses that you might…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Local Growth Fund
Productivity is a line that you've looked at and wanting to improve and increase, and it's one thing that most economists point to as being one of the deficiencies of not just the Welsh economy but the UK economy. Can you give me an example of where you think…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Local Growth Fund
Thank you, all. Looking at the growth fund, the aspiration for the growth fund is to support productivity, growth and tackle issues leading to economic inequalities across Wales. No-one would disagree with those sentiments, but bear in mind the indices have…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Local Growth Fund
Welcome back to the third and final evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for the economy and her officials, dealing with the local growth fund. I'll ask, as I've done in the previous two sessions, the Cabinet Secretary to introduce herself and her…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Of course, if we had the Secretary of State before us today, we'd get the answer to the question. Sadly, she's declined our numerous invitations to come and speak to us. So, we're grateful to you, Cabinet Secretary, for coming to speak to us, and in…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
But do you, like the committee, not really understand why they're not included in the standing invitation to the transition board? Is that the case?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Just out of my own curiosity, you said about the unions doing good work, and I concur with that, but we've had representations from the local reps that they weren't invited to the transition board. When we queried this with the Secretary of State's office…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Hannah.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Luke.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Thank you. Alun.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
A 'yes' or 'no' please, Cabinet Secretary, to that question: can you do it before dissolution?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
This is the final question. We will have to move on.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
It's in the record it is.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Do you recognise the figure that Community, the union, put to this committee, that public procurement now represented only a third of British steel, whereas, historically, it was as high as two thirds? So, do you see that, whilst we hear you saying about…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Does that address, that change in direction—? Does that address the issues that British Steel, for example, have been highlighting when it comes to green steel, and blast furnace steel meeting the green credentials on public procurement? I know they've…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Okay, thank you.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Just for clarity, there—. Sorry, that dropped off there. The write-around process hasn't even begun yet?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Okay. Jenny.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Tom.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Can I let Alun ask his supplementary, please?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Tom.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
I think, accept the point about way of life—. Such a massive change, with so many people losing their job at a certain particular moment in time, is going to be catastrophic for any community, it is. But when you get—and this is the outreach team doing this…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
The Senedd outreach team did an engagement with the local community and, indeed, some of the wider communities. Obviously, the comments that came back were quite damning, to be honest with you. The community felt very let down. In some of the comments they…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Future of Welsh Steel
Talking of future investments, people have talked of a new plate mill and direct reduced iron plant. I appreciate we're seeing the arc furnace and its associated developments taking shape now. Are you able to give the committee any assurances around…
