1. Will the First Minister provide an update on the Swansea Bay City Region? OAQ(5)0171(FM)

4. Will the First Minister provide an update on the Swansea Bay City Region? OAQ(5)0180(FM)

Yes. Llywydd, I understand that you’ve given your permission for questions 1 and 4 to be grouped. I can say that progress continues to be made in building collaboration and partnership around shared priorities for jobs and growth.

I believe that the Swansea bay city region is developing very well as a vehicle for economic development. I, however, see a more strategic role for it in things like a structure plan. Does the First Minister agree, and will the First Minister look to use the footprint of the Swansea bay city region for Welsh Government-funded public services?

The city region has tremendous opportunity. I’d encourage all those looking at a city deal for Swansea bay to put that bid in before the Chancellor’s autumn statement. It is important that local government work together in order for that to happen. We’ve seen this happen in the capital region. The same thing needs to happen in Swansea bay as well. But, yes, as part of the work that the local government Secretary has been carrying through in the summer, we are looking at how best to regionalise the delivery of services across Wales where that is the most effective way of doing so.

First Minister, you’ll be aware from questions last week that Assembly Members were getting a little bit restless that we weren’t hearing much from the city deal board, but I’m pleased to say that we’ve had a modest briefing from them now. From that, it seems that their major concern at the moment is the issue of governance in the short to medium term, and they’ve been working with Welsh Government, suggesting a not-for-profit model for the future. Bearing in mind that this board is only convened for another six months, or less than that, when will you be responding to them and what will you be saying to them?

Well, they are in the driving seat. The city deal is a matter for local government, and not for the Welsh Government. That said, of course, we are there to assist, as we did with the Cardiff city deal bid, but it is important now that they do work together to put a credible bid on the table.

We’re told by the city deal team that the situation is ‘very fluid’, and that the current prospects of success are about 50/50.

So, in view of that, what is the Welsh Government currently doing, and what does it plan to do to support the bid team and increase the probability of success from 50/50.

Well, of course, it’s a matter for local government to put the city deal bid in, not for Welsh Government, but as I said in answer to the earlier question, we stand ready to assist. Of course, we have been, as we did with the Cardiff city deal bid. So, any request for assistance, of course, will be looked at and assistance provided; and we have been working with the city deal team in order for them—because it is their responsibility—to put forward a bid. We want to see a city deal bid succeed for the Swansea bay region.

First Minister, the city deal is exciting and innovative. It’s actually focused on ICT and the next generation. Of course, the region has been built upon the traditional industries and manufacturing. What are you doing to ensure that that part remains a focus on city deals so that the manufacturing that’s existing, and advanced manufacturing, particularly research areas, will be supported in the future?

Well, to me, both these things run together. It’s hugely important that manufacturing in Wales is state-of-the-art. That means working, of course, with the universities. I know that Swansea University, which I know is in his constituency, has been working well with industry over many, many years. Indeed, we’ve been working with them in order to see how best we can maximise the expertise and intellectual property that they develop.

First Minister, if the Swansea bay city region is to be a success it will require collaborative working, not just between the four local authorities but collaboration with the Cardiff city region and with the Welsh Government, to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to support the ambitious plans put forward by the city region board. What infrastructure enhancements is the Welsh Government planning for the Swansea bay region over the next five years; and how do you plan to connect the wider Swansea bay region to the south Wales metro project?

We’re looking, of course, at ways of creating a metro project in that region in years to come. Swansea, as a city, is an economic driver for the areas around it, and it’s important that people are able to get to Swansea easily as well. But, I have to say, what would be hugely useful is if the UK Government made good on its promise to electrify the south Wales main line as far as Swansea, something that they have so far steadfastly refused to do.

To date, Cynon Valley has been firmly aligned with the Cardiff city region, and, while I welcome this association and the many benefits it may bring, in geographic and economic terms, my constituency also has many links with the Swansea bay area. What assurances could you provide, First Minister, that the city region model will be flexible enough to incorporate the best interests of constituencies like my own, whose interests lie in both city regions.

Yes, the model has to be flexible to recognise economic reality, not political boundaries. We understand that. The city region, and the reason why Cynon Valley is in the city region along with Cardiff, is because of the tendency of the road links, and the rail link particularly, to come into Cardiff. But, of course, as we know, from the Baverstock roundabout westbound, there are links to Swansea as well. There is no reason why the two city regions can’t work together, seeing themselves as collaborators for collective prosperity rather than competitors.