Ken Skates AM (Minister for Economy and Transport): I think the
Member is absolutely right as well to call for an increase in
research and development spend in the region, and I would widen
that to say we should have an increased spend in Wales as a whole.
Of course, within the growth deal, there is a £20 million project
for access to smart energy, relating to the development of
Trawsfynydd as a centre for the deployment of small modular
reactors. I'd like the UK...Request free
trial
(Minister for Economy
and Transport): I think the Member is absolutely right
as well to call for an increase in research and development spend
in the region, and I would widen that to say we should have an
increased spend in Wales as a whole. Of course, within the growth
deal, there is a £20 million project for access to smart energy,
relating to the development of Trawsfynydd as a centre for the
deployment of small modular reactors. I'd like the UK
Government now to examine the potential to ring-fence sums within
the sector deals for nuclear and aerospace for the region and for
Wales, to ensure that we are at the forefront of technological
development in two areas of expertise that I think we are
renowned for around the globe...
AM: Question: what will you now
say to retract your statement last week that the Prime
Minister had been in Japan the previous week and hadn't
raised this, when the Prime Minister of Japan was
actually in London, and she confirmed in the House of
Commons that she had, as did the Secretary of State for
Wales, who confirmed that he'd also met her in the
House of Commons? She answered a question to confirming she
had. And, given that this increases the need for
the growth deal, what dialogue have you had, or will
you have, with UK Research and Innovation, the body
that has £7 billion funding for a combined budget for
purposes such as this, which I understand might be
accessible to support the small modular reactors and
advanced modular reactors to help fill any gap that's
created and drive Trawsfynydd and north-west Wales as a
European centre, and potentially as one of the global
centres, for SMR and AMR development?
: Look, I should just say at
the outset that the development of SMRs will not make
up for the potential loss of 9,000 jobs across north
Wales and the rest of Wales. It simply will not. It
will contribute to filling the gap, but one
project alone, I'm afraid, is not the silver bullet. Of
course, Innovate UK has been heavily involved of late
in activities here in Wales. We look for every and all
opportunity to draw down competitive funding for
research and development and innovation in Wales, and,
as the Member, I'm sure, is fully aware, we are now
using the Government offices in London as a showcase
for Welsh innovation in order to draw attention to
what's taking place within our research institutions.
And with regard to the discussions that did or did not
happen between the Prime Minister of Japan and the Prime
Minister of the UK, it seems that conflicting statements
are being made. In order to clarify exactly what was
said, it may be useful to know what the response of the
Japanese Prime Minister was to the supposed raising of
queries by .
To read all the exchanges, CLICK
HERE
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