Carwyn Jones stops Ken Skates visit to Los Angeles

Los Angeles was one of the three cities pencilled in for the economy secretary to visit

A bid for the economy secretary to travel to California has been turned down by the First Minister Carwyn Jones.

A company had invited Ken Skates but a register of decisions by ministers says that a business case for Ken Skates's trip planned in January 2017 was declined.

Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego had been proposed for the trip.

The Welsh Government said the timing was not appropriate.

Mr Jones' decision emerged in a report posted to the Welsh Government website.

The decision report stated that the First Minister had decided for Mr Skates not to visit California

A Welsh Government spokesman said: "The economy secretary was invited to the West Coast of America by a creative industries company.

"While this remains a valuable market for Wales, it was decided that this was not the appropriate time for the visit.

"We continue to look at opportunities to increase trade links both there and elsewhere in the world, building on recent successful trade missions to China, Japan and the USA."

Mr Skates previously visited Los Angeles as the deputy minister for culture in October 2015 with the aim of promoting Wales' creative industries during Film and Television Week.