, Plenary
Topical Questions
Well done.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Cost of doing business
Diolch.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Cost of doing business
Sara, any additional comments before I hand back to the Chair?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Cost of doing business
Thank you. If I could turn to a more focused look on the hospitality and retail sector, I'd be interested to know if you could set out some of those main challenges facing the sectors at the moment and what impact these are having on businesses. Shall I start…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Cost of doing business
Yes, of course.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Cost of doing business
Thank you.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Cost of doing business
In terms of Welsh Government itself, then, of course, there are some limitations. You mentioned business rates, what would you call on the Welsh Government to do specifically around business rates or anything else?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Cost of doing business
Shall I come over to Leighton to see if there's anything you'd like to add to that, Leighton?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Cost of doing business
Breweries are another fine example of that as well.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Cost of doing business
So, do you think it's fair to say, then, that—? If we were to think of a umbrella term for these businesses, do you think the umbrella of 'high-energy-intensive sectors' would be that one? One thing I've always had a bit of an issue with is that, when we talk…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Cost of doing business
Diolch, Cadeirydd. I'm interested in the impact of the cost of doing business on different sectors. If I could start with CBI and FSB: looking at your membership, which sectors are being most impacted by that rising cost of doing business, and what are the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Economy
Diolch.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Economy
Finally, Minister, I would be interested if you could update the committee on the progress with delivering the Wales fuel support scheme in 2022-23. I would also be interested in knowing to what extent the scheme has seen a higher take-up than the scheme run…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Economy
If I could touch on the consequentials, then, there will be a Barnett consequential from the autumn statement’s announcement of additional UK Government spending on the household support fund in 2023-24. Now, my colleague next to me will likely argue that…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Economy
In terms of the overall cost-of-living support provided by both UK and Welsh Governments, do you think it’s adequate? I imagine, I can guess what the answer will be in terms of the UK Government’s support, but would Welsh Government then be looking to plug…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Economy
Diolch, Gadeirydd. Back to me again. I was wondering if you could set out—it was referred to earlier, but you also refer to in your papers—the Cabinet sub-committee's role in helping to develop a coherent response to the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Economy
So, it's safe to assume, then, that if compliance wasn't up to scratch after the bid, the Welsh Government would step in.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Economy
So, could I take it, then, that a company like P&O, for example, would be ruled out of running a free port in Wales, given their track record when it comes to workers' rights and how they treat workers?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Economy
Diolch, Cadeirydd. I have concerns around free ports. I've expressed them in the Chamber with yourself. Globally, they tend to be a bit of a wild west, especially when it comes to workers' rights. Now, you have mentioned that the Welsh Government have secured…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Economy
Thank you.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Economy
I look forward to that report when it comes out. I'm particularly interested in that preparation for the current cost-of-living crisis because, I hope that you would agree, there are some constants when it comes to economic downturns in terms of their effect…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Economy
Diolch, Cadeirydd. I just wanted to be clear on this point: have any adjustments been made to the young person's guarantee at all in its first year? In terms of how it operates, in terms of the support available.
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. The First Minister will be aware of the most recent spate of bank closure to hit Wales after HSBC announced last week that they'd be closing 12 branches from next April. One of the branches earmarked for closure is in Port Talbot. The…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
7. What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure communities across Wales have accessible banking services? OQ58850
, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Diolch, Gadeirydd. I can see that the Minister has clarified that there'll be now work undertaken by Government around improving access to fracture liaison services. I can also see that the petitioner has no further comments since we had the response from the…
