, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Progress Update on the Plan for Employability and Skills
I think this, again, neatly highlights that this goes across more than one area within the Government, because it's both about the childcare provision itself being accessible and appropriate for the child, how it's arranged, and then the affordability of it…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Progress Update on the Plan for Employability and Skills
Thank you for the question, Chair.
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Progress Update on the Plan for Employability and Skills
Thank you. I think, on some of those questions, we've rehearsed them on more than one occasion. When it comes to supporting people to complete education and training courses, we have, as the Member's recognised, provided additional direct support. It's a more…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Progress Update on the Plan for Employability and Skills
Thank you for the long list of questions—I'll try to answer as many as I can without tempting the patience of the Llywydd. Look, I think the starting point of this is, having set out what we want to do, we've had a range of different shocks, which I've set…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Progress Update on the Plan for Employability and Skills
Our plan goes further than addressing the need for skills and training. It sets out how we will support individuals with all aspects of their employability needs, including: breaking down barriers to employment; support for physical and mental health; and…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Progress Update on the Plan for Employability and Skills
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I launched the plan for employability and skills just over 18 months ago, in March 2022. This set out our vision for a stronger, fairer and greener Wales. In our plan, we set out the aim to help people across Wales, particularly those…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Yes, I'm confident that we will be able to use all of the investment that’s been placed into the current fund. We've actually been acting to fill some of the gap, and this has been the really difficult challenge. So, it's a matter of fact, not opinion, that…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
The Wales business fund, managed by the Development Bank of Wales, provides loans and makes equity investments into businesses. The greater part of the capital being deployed through this fund, £186 million, was from former EU funding from the European…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
It's part of what we want to do, working with corporate joint committees, working with growth deals as well, to make sure we're not simply looking at growth, for example, in the capital region that takes place south of the M4. It's part of the conversation…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you. There is an extensive range of support available for businesses in Blaenau Gwent through our Business Wales service. We also work with partners to support Blaenau Gwent businesses in a range of ways. The includes our business productivity…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I'm very keen to see more investment in hydrogen, and actually the north Wales growth deal has indicated its support for the Holyhead hydrogen hub. We want to see that right across north Wales, and indeed in south Wales too. But for this to happen, it will…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I think they've gone wrong by not doing what the Member said at the end: providing certainty—a plan for the future and the consistency that that allows other people to plan around it, the skills you need. A consistent target and a consistent ambition is…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you for the question. The Welsh Government continues to promote a just transition to net zero, including the promotion of the requisite training and infrastructure. Given the importance of the UK Government powers that they hold in the delivery of this…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I think that's a really broad question, given the whole range of different financial institutions that are engaged, because you can gain that support from a whole range of different people, from high-street banks to challenger banks to angel investors to the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
When you invest in an area, there is often some disruption, and then you will ultimately get a better environment once the investment has been delivered. If there are businesses with specific challenges, then they could and should approach Business Wales, and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Our Business Wales service provides entrepreneurs and businesses with access to a wide range of information, guidance and support, both financial and non-financial, to support small businesses across Wales.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you for the question.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I thank the Member for his question. Of course, we had an opportunity to talk about free ports when I was at the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee last week, and we're getting to the stage where the outline business case should be with us towards the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you. Our economic mission sets out clearly the values and priorities that shape decisions that we are taking to help grow our economy across the whole of Wales. An excellent example in south-west Wales is the Swansea bay city deal, a £1.2 billion…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I'm really delighted the Member has raised the significant investment that has taken place here. It's an investment in the future, an investment in a part of Wales where I think that you can look at what will happen in the economy of the future, you can look…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I think the Development Bank of Wales has been a real success story in terms of filling a gap that existed and I will happily—happily—write to the Member and publish the number of businesses that have been supported by the development bank. In every single…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
What I think you should expect from the renewed mission is a refresh that takes account of what's happened in the last few years. Now, we've had a very difficult time, both post pandemic and more than that, with 13 years of austerity and falls in living…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Prynhawn da. We are working across Government to deliver upon our economic mission aims of a fairer, greener and more prosperous Wales. I will be making a further statement on 28 November that will outline a renewed set of priority areas to reflect the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I hope we will, because technology is going to become more and more a part of everyday life. I see it with my own son, the way he thinks about technology and answers. He's regularly bemused when I explain that things he takes for granted just didn't exist…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
We do a number of things and, actually, you are right that it is still a sector where you're likely to find more men than women. That isn't how talent is distributed. It isn't how a desire to achieve is distributed either. So, there's a challenge about…
