Job Creation
Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Contributions
Steve Witherden (Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr) (Lab)Labour
6. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help create new jobs in Wales.
Andrew Ranger (Wrexham) (Lab)Labour
11. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help create new jobs in Wales.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Dame Nia Griffith)Labour
Since July, we have driven over £1 billion of private investment from Eren Holding and Kellogg’s into Wales, creating and sustaining over 400 well-paid jobs in manufacturing. Our Welsh freeports and investment zones will together unlock billions in private investment and aim to create at least 20,000 jobs across all four corners of Wales.
I welcome the news that the Secretary of State has signed a memorandum of understanding on four Welsh growth deals with Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Rebecca Evans. Will the Minister outline how this UK-Welsh Government partnership will deliver the well-paid jobs and economic growth needed in areas like Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr?
The memorandum of understanding signed recently between the UK and Welsh Governments further demonstrates our commitment to working together to deliver economic growth throughout Wales. The UK Government have invested £790 million in Wales’s growth deals, including £110 million in the Mid Wales growth deal which aims to leverage up to £400 million of public and private sector investment in the region and create up to 1,400 additional jobs.
In places across the UK, including in my constituency of Wrexham, for too long too many young people have fallen through the gaps, meaning that they can miss out on job opportunities, education and gaining the critical skills essential to getting on in life. What measures is the Minister taking to ensure that young people can seize the opportunities of our growth mission and are not left behind, and help them to maximise their potential?
Today, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor confirmed that we are moving forward with the £160 million Wrexham and Flintshire investment zone, focusing on the area’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, leveraging £1 billion of private investment over the next 10 years and creating up to 6,000 jobs. Growth is integral to creating the opportunities that young people need to get on in life.
Source: UK Parliament Hansard API. Debate ID: 4840227.