I think whether it’s through directly elected mayors or other forms of policies, it’s essential that you have democratic processes that convey a sense of control by the citizen but that are also streamlined, efficient and effective. That applies not just to cities, but also to more rural areas, I believe. But of course, we also have to recognise the limits of cities as much as their potential. I think it’s fair to say that, looking back over the last few years, the Welsh economy has performed exceptionally well. We know that unemployment is at a record low, that employment is at a record high and last year, the Welsh Government helped to create and protect 37,500 jobs.

So, there’s no doubt that parts of Cardiff and Swansea and other large urban areas have achieved impressive growth. But, as I’ve said today in an article in the ‘Western Mail’, I think our challenge in 2017 is to build those fundamentals of a strong economy in all parts of Wales and our approach must go beyond, in my view, simply focusing on developing our cities to a more nuanced approach that better reflects the needs and the opportunities for economic resilience and prosperity right across Wales. This is something that was recognised in part (h) of point 3 in today’s motion, which several speakers have touched on, including Nick Ramsay, who also championed, rightly, the need for integrated ticketing—and I do believe that with the new franchise and the ability of Transport for Wales to control the ticketing mechanisms, we will be able to realise that vision that has eluded us in many places.

I think it’s also essential for us to support economic growth and prosperity in a way that recognises that Wales’s economy has a significant regional dimension, again raised by a number of Members. In doing so, I think we need to grow our regional capitals—those towns and large urban areas that are not necessarily cities, but that are major attractive areas that can have the potential to create the sort of agglomeration that Jeremy Miles spoke of, which acts as a driving force for economic prosperity.

I think it’s also essential that we do all we can to share the wealth and to address head on the structural and economic problems that still blight too many communities. That’s why we’ve not only encouraged and supported the development of city regions and city deals, but also have been strong supporters for the work of the Growing Mid Wales partnership, the north Wales growth deal and north Wales’s relationship with the Northern Powerhouse.

In north Wales, of course, there’s an opportunity for greater collaborative working within the region and across the border, and it’s something that I am very much encouraging. I think the debate today has touched on some very important themes, and it’s clear that a co-ordinated and cross-governmental approach is essential in achieving growth and prosperity right across Wales.

One final point—and it’s something that Janet Finch-Saunders raised in her contribution—is the importance of how the built environment should be designed and constructed to reflect the needs of an ageing population. I believe that Janet Finch-Saunders is absolutely right, and I would go one step further and say that design should be based on a people-first basis, not at all on a vehicle-first basis. For that reason, I think Nick Ramsay is absolutely right in his assertion that the active travel Act must be successful.