Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport
Following full public consultation and scrutiny by the Assembly, I can confirm that the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales will be established initially as an independent, non-statutory, advisory body to Welsh Ministers, whose key purpose will be to analyse, advise and make recommendations on Wales’ longer term strategic economic and environment infrastructure needs over a 5-30 year period.
The commission will comprise of 10-12 commissioners, including the chair; all of whom should be publicly appointed following the public appointment principles on the basis of their experience and expertise. The public appointments exercise for chair and members of the commission will start early in the New Year and I attach a copy of the advert for Members to share.
We are looking for individuals with experience of strategic leadership at senior levels of government, academia or business in one or more sectors of economic and/or environment infrastructure (such as energy, transport, waste, flood, digital communications) or a related field (such as economics, planning, project/infrastructure finance, design, engineering, technology and innovation).
The commission will be fully established by summer 2018. I will update Members at key milestones throughout the public appointment process.
This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Assembly returns I would be happy to do so.