Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:27 pm on 8 February 2017.
Can I thank the Member for his question, and also welcome the fact that he recognised that the two-week deadline was significant and important? I decided to issue the two-week deadline for a number of reasons. One was that we were assured that the Heads of the Valleys Development Company, back in July, would be able to come to us within a matter of weeks with a revised proposal. So, I felt in the new year it was important to lay that deadline. But above all, I felt that the people of Ebbw Vale had shown considerable patience in waiting for the proposal to come forward. And I felt that in the new year it was necessary to give the company that deadline. It has now been met. We are examining the private finance details under a non-disclosure agreement. I can’t comment further, I’m afraid, on the examination of the private finance that’s taking place.
In terms of the due diligence process that will commence upon us receiving all of the information, it will enable us to begin that process. We expect it to take place and be completed in approximately four to six weeks, which is a normal time frame for a project of this scale, upon which Cabinet will then be able to consider it.