Part of the debate – Senedd Cymru am 3:32 pm ar 28 Mawrth 2023.
Well, there is more of a practical conversation to take place now. So, I'm the lead Minister in this area, but, as I've said earlier, it does take in a range of other ministerial portfolios as well—the climate change Minister and the finance Minister being the most obvious ones, as well as the Minister for north Wales—because the devolved reliefs and powers that we'd be looking to exercise, we've got to understand the design of those around each of the bids. So, there will necessarily be a need for Ministers and our officials to be involved and engaged in that, as well as then planning for the potential outcome of those as well. If you think about the skills we talked about earlier, the questions about infrastructure, what we actually want to deliver is a real jobs dividend for Wales—a real jobs dividend in sustainable jobs that will help us on our path to a net-zero future.
It should also mean, if we get this right, that there is greater confidence in the steel sector as well. It isn't just Tata in Port Talbot, but, actually, if we're going to find our ability to build some of the floating offshore platforms, I'd much rather it was British steel that goes into those, and if it's going to be British steel, then a significant chunk of British steel production takes place in Wales, and that's what I want to see as well. So, it's part of the reason I mentioned earlier the need to have conversations with the UK Government about a range of these things as well. Finalising an investment package for the future of the steel sector will give more confidence, and I hope that the fact that the free-port bids are going through the next stage will give greater impetus for that decision to be made.