, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Lease negotiations regarding the future of Gilestone Farm are ongoing. The Welsh Government does not disclose the details of confidential commercial discussions whilst they are ongoing.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I think the retail action plan will make a difference. It's been designed together with the industry and the Welsh Retail Consortium, together with trade unions, led by USDAW, and that's meant that we've got a shared view on what the future could and should…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you for the follow-up question. Our ambitions for high streets in Wales are set out both in our retail action plan and in the town centre position statement. What should give us more positivity about what is possible is that in a number of areas that…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you. We're working hard to deliver our programmes and initiatives to support high streets, including in Islwyn. For example, our Transforming Towns programme is providing £125 million to local authorities over three years and is targeted at addressing…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Well, let's start with the first point the Member made in response. I don't think beating up Cardiff is a sensible way to go about trying to grow the economy. And actually, in my response, I didn't just talk about Cardiff. There are challenges and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
We haven't needed to be woken up, because it's been very clear since I became the economy Minister that it's part of the economic mission about young people planning a successful future here in Wales, both young people from Wales and those people who want to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I thank the Member for his question. As he knows, I have previously been on marches in London when the question was very alive about an alternative to having the actual deal put before people. [Inaudible.]—helped people to get to London for that. I won't be…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Well, the starting point is the UK Government need to acknowledge this is a devolved area. They need to acknowledge we're not simply supplicants. They need to acknowledge that we have a decision-making role in the Welsh Government, as indeed does this…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
The picture is varied. From the time when I became the economy Minister to now, in some areas, we have reached pragmatic conclusions where we've been able to strike agreement. Free ports is one example. However, in others, we've been met with indifference…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you. Despite these programmes operating in devolved areas, the Welsh Government was denied a meaningful role in their design and implementation by the UK Government. We are working with our stakeholders in Wales to minimise the impact of what is now a…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Steel Industry
It's a point that I think I mentioned earlier in response to John Griffiths, but I'm happy to restate the point. Near the start of my statement I referred to where steel is made, how it's produced and what it is, and of course the reference to baked beans was…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Steel Industry
I'm more than happy to give that commitment, because in the conversation I had with the trade union side, the meeting I had when I was overseas on the Friday—we had an early meeting then—and the meetings I've had yesterday and today, we're very clear that we…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Steel Industry
I recognise the points the Member is making and, indeed, I referenced the potential mental health impact of a large-scale and immediate redundancy event, and what that would inevitably do across the population of people who might lose their jobs, if that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Steel Industry
It's a key ask, and, as I said, our position and our preferred end point has always been this. And, actually, from the trade union side, they have engaged meaningfully in what a just transition could look like to decarbonise the sector. They've worked with…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Steel Industry
I've had the opportunity to visit Shotton with Unite the Union, and Jack Sargeant as the constituency Member, previously. Our initial understanding is that there's less concern about Shotton than other steel-making facilities, but we need certainty on that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Steel Industry
Thank you. It's an important point around some of the specifics of the wider supply chain. For both Llanwern, and indeed for Trostre, with steel currently provided from Port Talbot, it's not clear that you can make that in the way that it would need to be…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Steel Industry
I think there are two points to make in response. As I've said on a number of occasions already, I recognise that the concern that people have is very real, and isn't going to go away quickly, because, actually, the negotiations with the trade union side are…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Steel Industry
Well, with respect, the Member has tried to provide views for me that I don't have and haven't set out. I think he should listen a deal more carefully and recognise the seriousness of the matter. The tone of his comments I find deeply disappointing. This is a…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Steel Industry
I recognise the Member's long-term commitment not just for the sector in his constituency, but the broader points that he makes about the importance of steel in the future of the economy. I also recognise the points he makes powerfully about the worry for the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Steel Industry
Thank you for the comments and questions, and I agree with the broad thrust of the Member's comments on where we are. You'd expect that Welsh Labour Members, not just Ministers, would stand in solidarity with the communities that we represent, with a sector…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Steel Industry
Thank you for the comments and questions. I think the main point here is that we recognise in the Welsh Government, as indeed the sector recognises and, indeed, steel trade unions recognise, the need to transition to decarbonise the way that steel is…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Steel Industry
Llywydd, an earlier decision would have allowed for a fairer transition in a strong industry. We have long been urging the UK Government to provide the significant co-investment needed to support the move to greener methods of steel production. Against this…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Steel Industry
Thank you, Llywydd. A strong economy needs a successful steel industry. The Welsh Government is ambitious about steel and the integral role that it will play in the transition to net zero. That transition will support strong and lasting demand for steel in…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Well, it's simply not true to say that I have a casual attitude to public money. The Member knows that isn't true, but yet again, not for the first time, he is prepared to say things that he knows not to be factual. When it comes to links to political parties…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
In 2016, when that report was provided, it was dealt with by the ministerial team at the time. I've now been dealing with the end of the fund, the closing of it, and the arrangements we have in place and the learning to take on what we might do to better…
