, Plenary
Topical Questions
We will, obviously, do everything that we can to support the project, which, as I said, is of such strategic importance to Wales. I've already had an initial discussion with the CEO on Monday, not just to discuss the fire, but also the reports in relation to…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
I would also like to put on record our thanks to the emergency services—the mid and west Wales fire service—who attended the fire at around 8 p.m. on 3 June. The fire crews left the site on Friday 5 June. It's certainly something that Tata obviously wanted to…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
I received a report on the impact of the fire when I spoke with the company's chief executive officer this week. All personnel were accounted for and evacuated from the area safely. The company is surveying the damage and considering next steps in partnership…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities
I agree. I thank the Member for all those very pertinent questions, actually. We have many of the raw ingredients of success, as I've described, and one of them, actually, is we do have great universities with highly relevant subject-matter expertise. And…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities
I think that's a really great question, and I really look forward, maybe, to having a further conversation with the Member, drawing upon her own evident experience and expertise. I think, how can we get it—? You're absolutely right. We need, actually, if…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities
I really welcome the Member's question and you're right: I think it's long been a shared understanding among those who have looked at the question of why Wales, over many decades, has underperformed compared to its potential that it's this missing middle. We…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities
I think that the Member is absolutely right to raise the question of energy costs: it's true for individual consumers and families; it's true also for businesses as well. So, I think that the question for us is: can we get smart and creative in using the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities
The tourism sector is an absolutely key part of our economy and it has great potential to grow. We don't, for example, at the moment, achieve a sufficient proportion of international visitors to the UK. I was glad to welcome some Canadians in the inaugural…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities
I'm really grateful to the Member for putting this right at the core of our discussion this afternoon, because if we think about the engine of the economy, the absolutely central engine is the potential of our young people, which far too often, now and in our…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities
I really welcome the spirit in which the Member has offered her remarks, and I certainly will be taking up her offer of working together, where it is possible, to design solutions to the problems that the people we all represent collectively face in their…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities
I welcome the opposition spokesperson, the Labour spokesperson, to her post as well, and I look forward to engaging in detail on all of the issues that she raised. I think that it's important to bring us back, isn't it, to the focus of today, which is the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities
Well, could I first of all congratulate the Member on his appointment to this important opposition position? I look forward to engaging with him, both in the course of scrutiny in this Chamber, but also more widely as well. There is no monopoly on good ideas…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities
Partnership will be critical at every level. We will work closely with businesses, who understand the barriers to growth in real time. We will identify the barriers firms face, assign clear responsibility for resolving them, and ensure that they are addressed…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities
This is not about lowering standards, it's about improving how the Government and its partners work, being clearer about priorities and faster in decision making to join up the systems on which businesses depend. A key challenge we must address is business…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities
That's why this Government is placing productivity at the heart of its approach. Productivity is the foundation of long-term prosperity. It underpins wages, living standards and competitiveness. Today, Wales continues to lag behind, with productivity around…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities
Thank you very much, Llywydd. Wales is open for business. We are a nation with considerable economic strengths. Across our country, we see thriving enterprises, globally competitive industries, strong universities, a highly skilled workforce, and real…
, Plenary
Nomination of the First Minister under Standing Order 8
Rhun ap Iorwerth.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Industry Wales: evidence session with the Chief Executive and Chair
Okay. Thank you.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Industry Wales: evidence session with the Chief Executive and Chair
The new administration now is going to have to make a decision in terms of a successor body, a replacement, or whatever they decide to do. It would be really useful to have a detailed evaluation of the entire history of Industry Wales, so that there's a body…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Industry Wales: evidence session with the Chief Executive and Chair
The point you're making is a holistic view of the effectiveness is also a review of the Welsh Government as the sponsor, and their engagement, their setting of clear parameters in terms of KPIs. So, there are issues there for them, which aren't, from what…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Industry Wales: evidence session with the Chief Executive and Chair
Could I ask you a slightly different question then, as well, in terms of the landscape, the change in the landscape? One of the things that is referred to is the UK industrial strategy. To what extent has that been a driver, and the implicit assumption that…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Industry Wales: evidence session with the Chief Executive and Chair
Can I ask about the timing of this decision? Does it strike you—? I don't want to tempt you into political commentary, but just the timing, given that it's so close to an election. And the landscape, if you like, within Wales, of economic development delivery…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Industry Wales: evidence session with the Chief Executive and Chair
Yes. Okay, thank you.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Industry Wales: evidence session with the Chief Executive and Chair
Thank you.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Industry Wales: evidence session with the Chief Executive and Chair
And do you think that this whole episode will have enhanced or damaged the credibility of the Welsh Government in the wider business community?
