10 October 2017
Questions to First Minister
The Advanced Manufacturing Sector
14:05
5. Will the First Minister make a
statement on the advanced manufacturing sector in Wales? (OAQ51139)
14:05
Yes. The advanced manufacturing sector
is vital to a growing and prosperous Welsh economy. I have a touch of the
Theresa May lurgy this afternoon, I see. There’s nothing behind me that’ll fall
off though, I trust. [Laughter.] The sector is typified by highly skilled,
highly paid jobs and above average productivity, and we continue to support
companies in the sector in Wales to sustain their current operations and
exploit growth opportunities.
14:06
Can I thank the First Minister
for that response? I agree entirely that promoting advanced manufacturing is
going to be incredibly important to the Welsh economy, and areas such as
robotics and graphene can help grow the Welsh economy. Does the First Minister
agree that there needs to be a further clarification of the definition of
advanced manufacturing by the Welsh Government, to exclude things like 1970s
technology for colour coating steel from being considered advanced
manufacturing, despite the fact that both Bryngwyn and Tafarnaubach had closed
previously?
14:06
Well, colour coating steel is
advanced manufacturing. If you look at Shotton, for example, it’s highly
technical. Photovoltaic cells are involved in the production there. It’s not an
easy definition to make, but from our perspective, we know the sector is
defined by a range of standard industrial classification codes published by the
Office for National Statistics. Those codes were agreed by the
private-sector-led industry panel, which was established to advise both
Ministers and officials, and the treatment and coating of metals, including
colouring, is an activity included in the range of SIC codes that defines our
advanced materials and manufacturing sector. So, it’s a definition that is
based on consultation with industry according to a set series of codes.
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