The Senedd has backed a Welsh Conservative motion calling for the creation of a dedicated Welsh defence industrial strategy.
The motion calls on the Welsh Government to set out how Wales can maximise the jobs, investment and skills opportunities arising from increased UK defence spending, expand defence-related apprenticeships and technical education, and work with the UK Government to strengthen investment in the sector.
The vote follows the Welsh Government’s announcement that it is developing a separate ‘ethical defence investment framework’, with new defence investment decisions to be deferred where legally and practically possible while that work is completed.
Wales’s combined aerospace and defence sector directly employs around 16,000 people, has a turnover of £3.7 billion and contributes approximately £1.5 billion to the Welsh economy.
Darren Millar MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said:
“Wales has a proud history of playing its part in the defence of the United Kingdom and has enormous potential to secure more defence investment, skilled jobs and apprenticeships.
“Tonight, the Senedd has backed our call for a Welsh defence industrial strategy focused on those opportunities.
“The Welsh Government should now act on that decision and work with the UK Government, industry, universities and colleges to ensure that Wales gets its fair share of increased defence investment.
“As I said before today’s debate, instead of talking down the defence sector, the Welsh Government should be working with the UK Government to maximise the economic benefits for Wales.”
Putin’s Russia backs Welsh independence
Days after the First Minister addressed a pro-Welsh independence rally in Aberystwyth, Vladimir Putin’s Foreign Minister has gleefully welcomed the prospect of governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland working towards the break-up of the United Kingdom.
Today, the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives challenged the First Minister to focus on growing the economy and improving public services.
Darren Millar MS accused the Plaid Cymru Government of misleading voters by talking down Welsh independence during the election campaign, only to focus on it in government.
Earlier this month, the First Minister met with the Leaders of Sinn Fein and the SNP to discuss how they can work together to break up the United Kingdom.
Darren Millar MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said:
“It is extraordinary that Plaid Cymru have now won the backing of Vladimir Putin’s government for their dangerous plan to break up the United Kingdom.
“Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke gleefully about the First Minister’s meeting with Sinn Fein and the SNP, which is clearly seen internationally as a step towards diminishing our role in the world.
“Instead of constitutional navel-gazing, the public expect ministers to be focussed on addressing the crisis in the Welsh NHS, growing the economy and improving school standards.
“Before the election, Plaid Cymru supported legislation to ban politicians lying, yet went on to deliberately play down Welsh independence as a priority for the new government.
“It’s been claimed that several thousand attended this independence rally at the weekend, but such figures are dwarfed by the 709,000 people stuck on an NHS waiting list and the 1million people who can’t access an NHS dentist.
“It’s essential that Plaid Cymru ditch this obsession with constitutional change and focus on actually improving the lives of the people of Wales.”
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