Economy Committee discusses enterprise zones
Plenary begins at 1.30pm with Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance
Topical Questions
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) - Unadopted roads
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Ken Skates says Welsh Government investment in the enterprise zones has "supported more than 10,700 jobs since 2012, which equates to £5971 per job.
"That is an incredible figure," he adds.
"I'm not closing the door on the idea of an additional enterprise zone," says Mr Skates, adding "Wrexham is often talked of as a place where an additional enterprise zone could be created".
Plaid Cymru's Adam Price says there will be dissapointment in north Wales at the changes.
Mr Skates says there will be two zones in the north west with one governing board, "taking forward work in a co-ordinated fashion".
Adam Price
The Deeside, Ebbw Vale, Cardiff Central, Cardiff Airport and St Athan boards will cease, says Mr Skates.
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Announcing changes to governance arrangements, the Anglesey and Snowdonia enterprise boards will be merging, says Mr Skates.
Ken Skates announces that the Port Talbot Waterfront board and Haven Waterway board will continue for a further three years to July 2021.
The committee moves on to scrutiny of the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport. Attending with Ken Skates are:
Duncan Hamer, Deputy Director, Entrepreneurship and Delivery
Mick McGuire, Director, Business and Regions.
Hefin David reminds the committee of previous evidence from Chris Sutton of property consultancy JLL in Cardiff, who told AMs "if you look across the whole of Wales there are only perhaps two or three vacant industrial buildings” of modern or ‘Grade A’ standard.
Mark Langshaw, Chair of Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone, agrees that is an issue, saying "in Blaenau Gwent we've lost opportunities because we haven't had available premises in specific sizes."
Hefin David
Asked by David Rowlands about any failures, David Jones replies that "a shared apprenticeship scheme didn't work for us.
"We ended up with only one person on it.
"I think it's because apprenticeships in Deeside are so well developed and ingrained, we didn't need that programme to get it going".
Deeside is the most successful enterprise zone in Wales, where there was already a thriving business sector to build on.
Toyota, one of the world's biggest car manufacturers, has been operating there since 1992, long before there was an enterprise zone.
It employs 650 people mainly in the production of electric hybrid engines. One engine is assembled every 44 seconds at the site.
David Rowlands
"Comparing enterprise zones is difficult and comparing with England is difficult," says David Jones, Chair of Deeside Enterprise Zone.
Asked by Vikki Howells whether there is a need for a more regional approach to economic development, David Jones, Chair of Deeside Enterprise Zone, says that is "not at the forefront of my mind".
With a governance review underway, Mark Langshaw, Chair of Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone, says "it's not job done yet".
Image source, Getty ImagesAn enterprise zone in Ebbw Vale, pictured, has seen a total of £94m spent over five years
The first two witnesses this morning are:
Mark Langshaw, Chair, Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone
David Jones, Chair, Deeside Enterprise Zone.
Bore da.
The Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee is today discussing enterprise zones.
Almost 3,000 jobs have been created since enterprise zones were set up in 2012 with a £221m investment.
The economy committee has started an inquiry into their performance.
The Welsh Conservatives have questioned whether they provide value for money.
