Part of 1. 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:33 pm on 17 October 2017.
Carwyn Jones
Labour
1:33,
17 October 2017
Absolutely. We support the pharmaceutical industry, for example, through the life sciences investment fund. That’s made 11 investments into nine companies, including those that serve the pharmaceutical industry. It’s attracted considerable levels of co-investment. A life sciences hub has been delivered to provide a physical focus for the sector in Wales, together with a company to implement and deliver key elements of policy, and that hub is one of the cornerstones of what the sector will need to build on in the future. We’re working on the development of a brand with international reputation. Our trade missions, for example, to Medica, have consistently been the largest single trade event for Wales over the past three years. And, of course, we see the continued growth of BioWales, which is the signature event for the sector, and something that I attended a few years ago. It’s the vehicle for Welsh life sciences companies and academic departments to exhibit their expertise to an international audience. So, the work is being done not just in terms of supporting pharmaceutical companies who are here, but ensuring that they have a pipeline of skills for the future.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.