Speeches and questions

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

Were you just smiling because I'm good looking, or was there something that you wanted to say, Huw?

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

Hannah.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

And just before I call Hannah, obviously, the topical point for discussion at the moment on border security is the foot and mouth case in Germany, as such, which I’m sure Richard is kept awake at night thinking about.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

Thank you, Luke.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

I am conscious on this particular block that time has beaten us. Have you got another key point that you wanted to make, Luke, before I move to Hannah?

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

Thank you. Luke.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

Thank you. I was going to ask a question on evolving issues, but I think you've touched on some of those points in your response, Deputy First Minister, so I'll come straight to Sam.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

Thank you, Deputy First Minister. Cabinet Secretary.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

Thank you very much. Straight into questions, if I may. Cabinet Secretary, Deputy First Minister, how has the exiting of the EU shaped your budget priorities when setting this budget line that you both have in your portfolios? I'll go to the Deputy First…

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

We're now out of private session and into public session. I welcome the Deputy First Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, and the Cabinet Secretary for the economy, Rebecca Evans. There is a series of officials to the right and to the left of the Cabinet Secretary…

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

Thank you very much, Luke. Thank you very much, Members, and thank you, Cabinet Secretary, Minister and officials for your evidence today. There will be a transcript provided to you, so you can check that for accuracy. I believe we're keeping the Cabinet…

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

I'm very grateful. Luke.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

I'll certainly take that on board when the Deputy First Minister comes in. I'm just conscious it's 10:30 and Luke has the final section to ask. I appreciate, Jack, that you indicated you might wish to come in on that point. If it's an important point, but I'm…

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

I think the clock has beaten us on that particular section. Jenny.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

Thank you. Pressure on time. I'll call Sam now to take the next set of questions.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

Thank you. Just one point if I could raise it with you, Minister, on apprenticeships: on the Swansea city deal, there was a target for 3,000 apprenticeships to be delivered. Only 184 have been delivered. Clearly, we all subscribe to the importance of…

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

So, the viewing millions know, we're beginning a piece of work next week on apprenticeships, if I've read the forward work programme correctly. Jo.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

Thank you very much for that, Jack. Luke.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

That's a very important distinction, in fairness, that is. Hannah, any more points?

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

Perhaps you could write to the committee, because of the pressure on time, and there are parts where we've got to go through the budget, so it might be difficult to do justice to that particular piece. If Hannah is happy with that.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

Thank you. Hannah.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

I think Jenny's got a point here.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

No, sorry. Hannah.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

Thank you. Sam, I think you had a point on this one.

15 January 2025, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

Briefly on this, Jason, then I want to bring Hannah in on apprenticeships.