9. Will the Cabinet Secretary outline the Welsh Government’s regeneration priorities for Pembrokeshire? OAQ(5)0110(CC)

The regeneration priorities for Pembrokeshire continue to support the communities through a range of regeneration programmes that underpin sustainable development.

I’m grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for that response. As the Member for Mid and West Wales said in earlier questions, last night I hosted a reception here in the Senedd with Milford Haven Port Authority to learn more about their investment plans for the local area, which will significantly transform the Milford Haven area as we currently know it. In light of their plans, can you tell us what discussions you’ve had about how the Welsh Government can support the authority’s regeneration plans? Can you also tell us what additional support the Welsh Government can offer organisations such as the Milford Haven Port Authority in order to encourage future investment in Pembrokeshire?

Of course, and I think there are some opportunities there about working in partnership. Under the Vibrant and Viable Places framework, we are supporting Pembrokeshire County Council with a £2.25 million town-centre loans scheme, which is a 15-year recyclable loan grant. This will, I hope, be able to reduce the number of vacant and redundant sites and premises in town centres like Pembroke, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest. So, we are already taking significant actions with the authority, in terms of a new offer for the area that the Member represents.

I welcome what the Cabinet Secretary has just said about regeneration in the port of Milford Haven, but I wanted to ask him in particular about other communities in Pembrokeshire that are more difficult to reach for regeneration and support. Following his decision to change—well, to withdraw—over a period of time from Communities First, I was particularly concerned as to what now could be delivered for the Gypsy and Traveller community in Pembrokeshire. I asked the First Minister some of these questions in the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister in Carmarthenshire as well, and I’m still struggling to understand what the Welsh Government’s approach will now be to tackle these communities.

I intend to visit one of the communities in Pembrokeshire in the next month or so, and I’d like to take them a positive message from the Welsh Government about how they will be supported going forward, particularly on how educational opportunities and support for young people in Gypsy and Traveller communities will be achieved. What can the Cabinet Secretary tell me that I can take to my constituents?

I don’t know when the Member is visiting the site, but what I can do is try to ask one of my officials to join him in order to have a conversation with the young people and Gypsies and Travellers on that site to see what actions they’re seeking to happen. I think we have a very positive Gypsy and Traveller strategy, and I’ve got a team of officials who work with Gypsy and Traveller families very closely. The educational attainment levels of Gypsy and Traveller families and their children is an important factor that we consider. I would be happy to ask one of my team to come along with you to visit this site.