Welsh Government backs aerospace and defence sectors
The Welsh Government has highlighted the strength of its £3.7 billion aerospace and defence sectors during the Paris Airshow, where cabinet secretary for economy, energy and planning, Rebecca Evans, reaffirmed support for the growing industries.
Wales is home to around 285 aerospace and defence companies, supporting 16,000 jobs and contributing approximately £1.5 billion in GVA to the Welsh economy.
Ms Evans said: "Wales boasts world-class capabilities in the defence and aerospace sectors and Paris Airshow represents a global platform to further raise the profile of Wales as a dynamic hub for inward investment."
Eight of the world's top 11 aerospace and defence companies have a significant presence in Wales, including Airbus, RTX, General Dynamics, GE Aerospace, BAE Systems, Safran, Rolls Royce and Thales.
Ms Evans said the Welsh Government is committed to supporting businesses to create jobs in emerging industries.
The government recently attended DSEI in Japan and will lead a delegation to DSEI in London in September.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS New blow for Rachel Reeves as inflation stays at 3.4 per cent - despite hopes it was due to fall after 'awful April' bill rises hit voters
UK inflation held at 3.4 per cent last month, official data confirmed today following 'awful April' bill rises - in another blow for Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation was 3.4 per cent in May, slightly down from the figure of 3.5 per cent for April that was issued last month. Since releasing the previous data for April, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said an error in vehicle tax data collected meant the CPI rate for that month should have been 3.4 per cent - but it would not revise the official figure. A consensus of analysts had expected CPI to fall to 3.3 per cent for May, ahead of the latest data being released today. Ms Reeves said there was 'more to do' to bring down inflation and help with the cost of living, adding that the Government's 'number one mission is to put more money in the pockets of working people'. She said: 'We took the necessary choices to stabilise the public finances and get inflation under control after the double digit increases we saw under the previous government, but we know there's more to do. 'Last week we extended the £3 bus fare cap, funded free school meals for over half a million more children and are delivering our plans for free breakfast clubs for every child in the country. 'This Government is investing in Britain's renewal to make working people better off.' The figures mean prices were still rising in May at a similar rate to April when a raft of bills increased for households up and down the country. The energy price cap, set by regulator Ofgem, rose by 6.4 per cent in April, resulting in bills for a typical household rising by £9.25 a month. Steep increases to water charges, and rises for council tax, mobile and broadband tariffs, and TV licences were among those to take effect. Meanwhile, oil prices have been rising in recent days since Israel launched an attack on Iran's nuclear programme, raising concerns that the supply of crude from the Middle East could be disrupted. Rising oil prices could threaten to push up inflation in the UK. Energy costs coming down has been one of the biggest contributors to overall inflation falling from the peaks hit during the cost-of-living crisis.
STV News
18 minutes ago
- STV News
Pilot of 'transformative' minimum income proposed after Scottish election
An expert group commissioned by ministers has set out a 'road map' to implementing a minimum income guarantee in Scotland, saying it will be a 'fundamental change to the social contract'. The group of charities, campaigners and academics say there should be a pilot of the policy following next year's Holyrood election. A minimum income guarantee would establish an income level below which nobody is allowed to fall, through reform to social security, work, and services. In a suite of recommendations, the group says the Scottish child payment should be doubled to £55 per week by 2031 and sanctions in the welfare system should be effectively ended. They say an interim minimum income payment could be established by 2036, in line with the relative poverty level. Some of the group's welfare changes would cost £671m per year by 2030/31, in today's prices. However these would require just over £300m of additional spending if the UK Government scraps the two-child limit and ends the five-week wait for universal credit, the group said. The costs have led the Conservatives to describe the policy as 'bizarre and unaffordable'. Work on a minimum income guarantee was first committed to in the Scottish Government's 2021 legislative programme, under Nicola Sturgeon's tenure as First Minister. Russell Gunson from the Robertson Trust chaired the expert group. He said: 'A minimum income guarantee could be transformative, putting in place a universal guarantee that's there for everyone in Scotland. 'Given the levels of poverty and inequality we see, we must act urgently. 'With technological change and an ageing population, we need to build security for all to make sure we can take the economic opportunities in front of Scotland. 'A minimum income guarantee could future-proof Scotland.' Addressing questions about the affordability, Mr Gunson added: 'The first steps we set out over the next five years are affordable in the current context, and doable within existing powers. 'We can't wait – and we don't need to wait – to begin to make the changes outlined in this report. 'We know poverty, inequality, and insecurity costs us dearly in financial terms and in lost potential.' However Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy was dismissive of the proposal. He said: 'The SNP have made no serious attempt to rein in wasteful public spending and a soaring welfare bill. Now this report shows that a minimum income guarantee would cost billions – when Scottish taxpayers are already footing the bill for spending that is simply unsustainable and unaffordable. 'The SNP's existing plans involve benefits spending £2bn higher than other parts of the country by the end of the decade – and it's Scottish workers that will be saddled with the cost, when they are already paying the highest rates of tax in the UK. 'The SNP should immediately rule out this bizarre and unaffordable policy and reverse their reckless spending plans.' The Scottish Government has been approached for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Wales Online
29 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Full list of biggest Euromillions winners in UK as single ticket holder collects £208m
Full list of biggest Euromillions winners in UK as single ticket holder collects £208m The single ticket-holder has won a record EuroMillions jackpot - a massive £208m Somebody has won the massive jackpot of £208m (Image: PA ) A single ticket-holder from Ireland has won the biggest ever EuroMillions jackpot of £208m, the Irish National Lottery has said. The huge €250m prize means that the individual is now Ireland's biggest every lottery winner. The EuroMillions jackpot had remained at its cap of €250 million for four consecutive draws before being won by one lucky Irish player in Tuesday night's draw (June 17). The winning numbers from Tuesday's draw are 13, 22, 23, 44 and 49, with lucky stars 3 and 5. The EuroMillions jackpot is capped once it reaches 250 million euros – or £208 million. Once it has reached its cap, and if there is no winner, it stays at this value for a further four draws until it must be won in the fifth draw. Love dreamy Welsh homes? Sign up to our newsletter here Tuesday night was the last chance for the prize to roll over, and if no ticket had matched all five main numbers and two Lucky Stars then, the entire jackpot prize would have rolled down into the prize tier where there is at least one winner in this Friday's draw. Instead, Ireland has crowned its 18th winner of the EuroMillions jackpot. The UK's biggest ever EuroMillions win came in July, 2022, when an anonymous ticketholder took home £195,707,00. Here is the full list of the UK's biggest ever EuroMillion wins: Article continues below Tuesday July 19, 2022 - £195,707,000 - Anonymous Tuesday May 10, 2022 - £184,262,899 - Joe and Jess Thwaite, Gloucester Tuesday November 24, 2024 - £177,033,699 - Unknown Friday September 23, 2022 - £171,815,297 - Anonymous Tuesday October 8, 2019 - £170,221,000 - Anonymous Irish National Lottery chief executive Cian Murphy asked people who played in Tuesday's draw to carefully check their EuroMillions tickets. "We are absolutely thrilled to see this incredible and record win for an Irish EuroMillions player," he said. "We are advising our players to check their tickets and, if they are the winner, sign the back of the ticket, keep it safe, and contact National Lottery HQ and we will guide you through the claims process." He said they would reveal the location of the winning ticket as soon as possible. "The details surrounding the winning ticket will be revealed over the coming days," he said. "With such a big win we have procedures to follow, but we will reveal the winning location as soon as we can. "While this is a massive win, it can come as a shock to a winner and we advise them to stay calm, get independent legal and financial advice and contact us as soon as they can." In total, more than 92,000 players in Ireland won prizes in the EuroMillions and Plus games. Article continues below The last Irish winner of the EuroMillions jackpot was in February, 2022, when a person won 30.9 million euro with a quick pick ticket they purchased at a service station in Ballina, Co Tipperary.
