2. Will the First Minister provide an update on funding for the Cardiff City Deal? OAQ(5)0097(FM)

We remain committed to delivering a successful Cardiff capital region city deal. We have not yet had a response from the UK Government, however, in terms of them guaranteeing that the funding element of that deal that comes from European funds would be honoured by them, and that, of course, has a direct impact upon match funding for the city deal.

One of the key planks of the city deal is the metro, which could transform transport services in south Wales and the Valleys. As the First Minister has said, a sizeable amount of the project money has not yet been signed off. What opportunity would the First Minister have to negotiate directly with Europe about the continuation or obtaining the rest of that money?

As things stand, as soon as the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, then access to that funding will end. Now, I’m putting in place a team in Brussels to look at negotiating on Wales’s behalf in parallel with the UK, with the European Commission. But, if the European funding is not made up by the UK Government, then, clearly, that leaves a hole in funding and we will have to revise the plans that we currently have.

Before I come to a question, I was heckled by you last week, and you audibly called me a coward. I would suggest, in future, you behave in a more—

This is a question. This is a question. Ask a question, please, Mr McEvoy.

With respect, I would ask the First Minister to behave more like a First Minister.

Ask your question.

My question is coming now, but my statement remains.

I’ve just chaired a conference on the city deal—

Ask your question.

I am asking my question, with respect, Presiding Officer, if you’ll let me. [Interruption.] I’ve just chaired a conference on the city deal. [Interruption.]

Ask your question, Mr McEvoy.

I’ve just chaired a—

I think we know by now that you’ve just chaired something. Tell us what it is, and ask your question.

There were hundreds of delegates, from the third sector, from Government, yet there was only one person from a local business. My question is: why are local communities and why are local businesses not being included in the city deal? Small businesses are the backbone of this economy and yet their voice is hardly heard. Why is that?

Well, if he chaired it, I’m not surprised that very few businesses were there, I have to say. The reality is that businesses will be a hugely important part of the city deal, and we’ll work with local authorities and businesses to make sure that the benefits of the deal can be maximised.

First Minister, we’ve heard that the metro deal is central to this whole concept. Unfortunately, two weeks ago, I think we realised that there’s a great gulf between areas like Cardiff and the Valleys areas to the north, and this was reflected in the voting pattern. And the metro does give us a chance to integrate the economic future of these two very important parts of the south Wales economy.

I agree very much with that. The concept of the metro is designed to do two things, primarily. First of all, of course, to make it easier for those who have jobs in Cardiff to travel quickly into Cardiff, but also to attract investment away from the coast and further up the Valleys, and to get rid of that perception that our northern Valleys communities are hard to reach. We know that’s not true. We know, with the road schemes that have been put in place already, and we know that, with the metro scheme, we will be able to say to investors that our Valleys communities are connected to the wider economy of south-east Wales and therefore they are communities that should be invested in. And we’re beginning to see the fruits of that with the investment decision by TVR.