Written question WQ92510

Welsh Government has been active in delivering with its partners against the ambitions set out in the REF, including considering both supply and demand generating interventions, ensuring that the region has the appropriate supply of skills and talent to meet future demand as well as ensuring digital infrastructure, connectivity and the availability of commercial sites and premises.

Key examples that provide an indication of our on-going support for Pembrokeshire include:

• The prospective Celtic Freeport, providing a tax relief window which will provide long-term support to businesses looking to invest, delivering growth and jobs, alongside helping to regenerate our communities.

• Our work with partners to provide a multi-port approach to the very significant opportunities presented by FLOW in the Celtic Sea.

• The Pembroke Dock Marine programme, part of the Swansea Bay City Deal, which will place Pembrokeshire at the heart of UK and global zero carbon, marine and offshore energy innovation.

• Our support for businesses through Business Wales - Since 2016 the Business Wales service has supported the creation of over 10,500 jobs, over 2,100 new start businesses and provided support to almost 10,900 individuals and businesses in South West Wales (covering the local authority areas of Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea).

• Our financial support for businesses through, for example, the Economy Futures Fund (we supported InSite Technical Services Ltd in Pembroke Dock with a £160,000 grant to assist with company growth resulting in the creation of 44 new well paid jobs and help safeguard some existing jobs.