2. What support is the Welsh Government giving to the North Wales economy? OAQ(5)0611(FM)

We continue to support economic development across the whole of Wales by helping businesses to grow, investing in high quality infrastructure, and improving economic development conditions.

Thank you. At the CBI north Wales dinner a week ago last Thursday, which, of course, your colleague, Ken Skates, also attended, alongside some other Members, we heard that the north Wales growth deal bid was nearing completion and then ready to go to UK Government and, obviously, Welsh Government. When the UK Government first made the growth bid offer, it said it would be looking to work with the Welsh Government to devolve powers down. In his stakeholders update in April, the chief executive of Flintshire council, who’s leading the team putting together the bid for the six north Wales councils, said ambitions for the devolved powers to be granted to the region include transport functions, strategic land use planning, business innovation, advisory functions, careers advice and taxation, by which he means devolved taxation powers, all powers which are within the gift or otherwise of Welsh Government. How will your Government be responding to this call?

Well, ‘carefully’ I think is the word that I’d use. Firstly, if we look at business rates, if they were to be devolved to local authorities then 17 of the 22 local authorities would lose out. So, we must be careful that we don’t see that situation arise. We will look to devolve powers to appropriate bodies where we can. It’s fair to say that not all local authorities are able to exercise those powers effectively. We want local authorities to work in regional bodies, but we are fully committed to the growth bid and, of course, we will work with the UK Government in order to take that bid forward.

Since being elected a year ago, I’ve not only wanted to serve my own constituency, but also to be a strong voice for the whole of north-east Wales. I’m pleased that in the past 12 months we’ve witnessed much Welsh Government investment in my own constituency alone, from Flint castle to Theatr Clwyd, to support for local businesses, but alongside major proposals to improve our infrastructure across the whole of north Wales. Does the First Minister agree with me that what the people and communities of north Wales need is action not just words, and that he will further reassure us in north Wales that the Welsh Government remains committed to investing and supporting our region?

Very much so. Work is already under way, of course, to help deliver the Wylfa Newydd project. We announced the £20 million fund to establish an advanced manufacturing and research institute, supporting key employers like Airbus. We’ve announced plans, of course, to invest more than £200 million in the A55/A494 corridor. We’ve committed £50 million to take forward the first phase of the north-east Wales metro, and, of course, backing, a little further west, for the third crossing over the Menai. That’s in addition to £1 million-worth of funding to develop a new business hub in Wrexham supporting 100 new businesses.