15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I'm not sure if we need to be tasking the task and finish group to explore this particular issue, because the Welsh Government's position, I think, is entirely clear on this in terms of seeking the devolution of the Crown Estate. Many of us share that view…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
This week, I chaired the first meeting of the offshore wind task and finish group with leaders from across industry and academia to develop a clear action plan and timeline to ensure communities across Wales benefit from the investment in offshore renewables.
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I'm very grateful for the question and the opportunity, again, to highlight one of the shining stars, I think, in our Welsh economy. The life sciences sector, as well as employing thousands of people, as we've just heard, saw some significant growth amongst…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
The life sciences sector in Wales is scaling at pace, making it one of our most dynamic growth sectors. It currently turns over more than £2.85 billion annually. We are working with the UK Government to secure additional funding for the sector, alongside our…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I absolutely do. Investing in our public sector is so important to address the challenges that colleagues bring to this Chamber week after week. When we look at the investment that we're making in health, a record investment into the health service, and of…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
As I mentioned in response to your colleague earlier, we just can't wish away the last 14 years. It will inevitably have an impact, and the current UK Government is dealing with the mess that it was left with. I'm more interested in this space in terms of how…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
The Welsh Labour Government is working in partnership with the UK Labour Government, taking bold action to build a stronger, fairer, greener Welsh economy. This collaborative approach will ensure that we get the growth that we need to put more money into…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I really enjoyed the discussions that we had in relation to the offshore wind statement that I made last week. And, in that, I was able to set out the purpose of the task and finish group. It isn't about having those discussions about how important this all…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
Thank you very much for the question. And I just really want to emphasise how serious the Steel Council is and how seriously it takes its work. It's made up of leaders from within the steel sector, industry experts, trade unions, trade associations and…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
Yes. I was pleased to attend the Steel Council meeting on 7 January and I look forward to working with the council on the development of the UK steel strategy.
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
Just to conclude, really, the current UK Government was left with a very difficult set of circumstances, which it is trying to work through. And we all know the state of the public finances that the current UK Government was presented with. I think they’ve…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
Well, no-one is buying what the opposition spokesperson is selling in his remarks this afternoon. The fact of the matter is that the previous UK Government crashed the economy and left a massive hole in the public finances. [Interruption.] The current UK…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
Well, obviously, I would completely disagree with that assessment of the support that we’ve been providing to AI. At the heart of the UK Government's announcement was the intention of Vantage to invest hugely here in the UK, and most of that investment will…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I note the comments in relation to the UK Government and the challenging overall economic picture. But we all—we all on this bench—wish that the last 14 years hadn't happened with the Conservative Government, but just wishing it away isn't going to change the…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I'm very grateful for those questions. I was really pleased to be able to speak at the Wales launch of NESO towards the end of last year, and also to meet with them directly to hear about their plans in relation to 'Beyond 2030'. As colleagues know, it does…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
The National Energy System Operator produced its 'Beyond 2030' report to deliver the UK Government’s commitment to connect 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030. NESO worked directly with the Welsh Government to understand our policies and our spatial plans so that…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I’m very grateful for the question there, and particularly the recognition of the work that the Welsh Government’s been doing to invest in business premises. It is part of our considerable offer that we make available to businesses, both those that are grown…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I’m very grateful for the question this afternoon, and I am aware that it is a much-loved venue locally. I know that my colleague Jack Sargeant is really passionate about the Creative Wales fund, which has also provided over £10 million of funding to support…
15 January 2025 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
We continue to work with local authorities across the Cardiff capital region to increase economic prosperity. Our regional economic framework for south-east Wales has identified the development of key growth clusters as a priority, alongside our investment in…
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
Of course, and apologies if we have exceeded the 17 working days. I know we've had the Christmas period and so on. But I will chase the team on them today and try and get a response for you as soon as possible.
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 need them both, really. So, our own officers working abroad, we need them to be working hard, and they do, in this space; they come forward with great leads, which then eventually leads to jobs here in Wales. But also UK Government needs to be doing the…
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
So, we see the export action plan and the international strategy as being sisters, if you like, because they're so integral. Also, when we think about what that means in practice as well, we talked earlier about our international offices. So, they have really…
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 will do, yes. And just to say that, even despite difficult circumstances, the number of exporting businesses and the value of goods exported from Wales has actually been increasing, according to the latest figures. We can share that detail with you as well.
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
Yes. We can definitely provide that, alongside some information about the number of visitors we engage with, the number of events organised in Wales and overseas, and the value of any new export orders won by businesses that we have supported, which I think…
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
As Hannah says, there was a cut in the previous financial year, and that has been maintained now as a flat budget going into the next financial year. It did impact on some of the things that we were able to do through that BEL, for example, our activity to…
