1. How is the Welsh Government supporting businesses in the defence sector in Wales? OQ62487

The Welsh Government offers comprehensive business support to companies in Wales, including those within the defence sector. This support includes innovation, export and skills development. 

Diolch. During the rising global tensions, it’s imperative, of course, that Wales plays its part in the UK defence strategy. Last week, alongside my leader, Darren Millar, I visited Sierra Nevada Corporation Misson Systems UK in St Athan, a Welsh success story that develops and delivers critical defence capabilities to the UK and its allies. What I found—in my new portfolio role—so wonderful was that 60 per cent of its workforce is made up of veterans, as well as fantastic opportunities for science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates as well, all to get to high-paid, high-tech jobs, and to be trained on the job, in terms of the veterans. What are you doing as a Government to foster connections and match-up more veterans with high-paid jobs across Wales? Diolch.

Well, thanks very much. And that’s really good news that they are using some of the skills and talents that they have developed whilst serving in the armed services, to use those transferrable skills to help support jobs and the economy locally. So, that is very good news. And we hope, of course, that there will be opportunities. We know there’s going to be a significant increase in the amount spent on defence by the UK Government. It’s very important that, in Wales, we get our fair share of that funding. There are 285 companies in Wales related to defence, and eight of the top 11 global air and defence companies have a significant presence in Wales. So, there’s a real opportunity, but that is something that is, perhaps, worth pursuing even further, in terms of just making sure we link up the armed services’ veterans with those potential new jobs.

First Minister, I welcome that response. I, too, have visited a number and met with a number of defence companies in the last week, and they are looking towards expansion at the moment. I’d like to invite you to visit a factory with me in the Heads of the Valleys region to talk about how the Welsh Government can proactively support companies that are seeking to invest in the defence of this country, our democracy and our values at the most critical time for the world, and also ensure that companies are able to work together as a cluster, reinforcing supply lines and supply chains, investing in training for local people, and investing in an infrastructure that means that the investments that we are looking at making today are investments for the long term and not simply the short term.

Well, thanks very much. You’re quite right—I think it is important that we seek out these opportunities, and that significant increase that is going to be undertaken by the UK Government. I’m determined, as is, I know, the economy Secretary, who’s been doing a huge amount of work on this already, identifying what are those companies that we have who could offer to support the UK Government in their endeavours, but also making sure that we work with the defence industrial strategy that’s arising from the UK industrial strategy, and how that can benefit Wales. So, I know that the economy Secretary is very keen not just to look at manufacturing and components and things, but also to make sure our universities are active within this space as well. But I’d be more than happy to undertake a visit with you in your constituency.