9. Will the First Minister make a statement on the evidence base and research that is underlying the Welsh Government's economic development strategy? OAQ(5)0211(FM)

We use evidence from a wide range of sources to shape our approach to delivering a fairer, more prosperous and more secure Wales.

First Minister, Professors Brian Morgan and Gerry Holtham recently carried out research on what works in economic development across the globe. They found a very strong correlation between high levels of spend on schools and economic success. As well as the economic advantages, of course, education is a good in itself and benefits all aspects of life. Will Welsh Government work to increase funding to our schools in Wales?

Well, we've done exactly that, of course, through the protections we’ve put in place for schools. We are seeing new schools being built across Wales—something that didn't happen when I was at school in the 1980s. Nothing was ever built in the 1980s; things fell apart. We see more and more of our school students in buildings that are appropriate for them. The Member is absolutely right: skills and infrastructure are the two areas that are most important to any modern economy. You must have the ability to move goods out and to get people around your economy, but the one question I'm always asked by investors is: have you got the skills we need in order for us to be successful in Wales? And, of course, increasingly, the answer to that is ‘yes’, and we will continue to invest not just in schools, but in skills across the board for those of all ages, through, for example, our 100,000 places that we'll create for all ages in apprenticeship schemes.