Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like to move the motion in the name of Paul Davies. The aim of our motion is to welcome the economic boost to the Welsh economy, which will be delivered by the Prime Minister’s commitment to scrapping the tolls on the Severn crossing and calls for the Welsh Government to recognise the need to address the regional disparity in economic prosperity, which still exists within Wales, through both a north Wales and mid Wales growth deal.

Firstly, Deputy Presiding Officer, there is consensus from across the Chamber in support of the abolition of the tolls on the Severn crossing. The tolls on both Severn crossings are, I believe, an economic and symbolic barrier to Wales, which is why I’m delighted, of course, that the Prime Minister has made this commitment, a move that is estimated to boost the economy of south Wales by around £100 million a year. This decision shows, of course, the rest of the world that Wales is open for business.

The motion also calls for a recognition of the need for a north Wales growth deal and a mid Wales growth deal for the future prosperity of both regions. I would like to focus my remarks on this. I’m aware that other Members hope to be called to focus on other areas of our motion.

North Wales has the combination of assets to be a thriving region of our nation. Its geographical location not only makes it uniquely beautiful for Welsh tourism—second only, of course, to my Montgomeryshire constituency—but it has a prime position for developing economic links with Ireland and cities like Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. And Manchester, of course, as we’re all aware, is a city and a community that has shown in the last few days a great resilience and is a true credit, I think, to the rest of the United Kingdom, through its spirit and resolve in the face of a horrendous terrorist attack. And, of course, our thoughts remain with the victims and families who were involved in those shocking events.

Deputy Presiding Officer, the fact of the matter is, I think, that 1 million people of working age are living either side of the border, and rather than looking south to Cardiff, the people and businesses of north and mid Wales tend to look east towards Manchester, Liverpool and the midlands, as a result of cross-border movement. It’s a routine fact of life, and the border, I don’t believe, should be an economic barrier. On the contrary, the north Wales economy will undoubtedly benefit greatly from the prosperity and growth in the north of England, offering employment and business opportunities for people in the north Wales region. And this close economic alignment, I think, makes it incredibly important to ensure that cross-border collaboration takes place on the delivery of transport infrastructure projects, and regional transport authorities would go some way, I think, towards ensuring that infrastructure priorities are set at regional level. So, I think it is vital, therefore, that the Welsh Government not only strengthens the transport infrastructure surrounding the A55 corridor, but that it goes further in building a stronger working relationship, both with the UK Government’s Department for Transport and Transport for the North, in order to cement north Wales as an intrinsic part of this exciting new economic region.

Finally, Deputy Presiding Officer, I would also like to refer to the importance of developing a similar regional deal for mid Wales. I do believe that a mid Wales growth deal would go some way to driving and increasing productivity and social mobility in mid Wales. When I recently visited Lake Vyrnwy hotel in my Montgomeryshire constituency to discuss their plans for the future, it was clear that more investment in marketing mid Wales as a specific tourist destination and investment in transport networks and creating a world-class telecommunications infrastructure are desperately needed as part of a mid Wales growth deal to create a thriving mid Wales economy. Mid Wales, which is a viable place to do business, ensuring that key sectors such as tourism and agriculture are plugged into the midlands engine.

So, in order for the region to reach its potential, the Welsh Government must also devolve economic levers, I think, to mid Wales as well as north Wales. I see a mid Wales growth deal as the best way forward in conferring greater powers to mid Wales—a crucial and necessary step to regenerate the mid Wales economy, to deliver a mid-Wales-specific solution aimed at inspiring locally led economic growth. So, I commend our motion this afternoon to the Assembly and I look forward to other Members’ contributions over the next hour.