[Continues.]—£503 million, and I will say it again, as I’ve been allowed to say it again, £503 million to the £1.2 billion Cardiff capital city deal. This transformational deal will improve Valleys public transport and create 25,000 new jobs, leaving an extra £4 billion in private sector investment. And I would like to place on record my appreciation to the Caerphilly council new leader and his energetic, hands-on approach to leading the authority as the city deal progresses. I recently met with the council leader, David Poole, to discuss how the communities of Islwyn can benefit from the opportunities that the city deal presents for our Valleys communities and beyond.

Llywydd, let us be in no doubt our Valleys communities have borne the brunt of the Tory UK Government’s cuts, and they have been at the forefront of Government ruthless and cruel changes to welfare benefits, from the introduction of the bedroom tax, to cuts to disability benefits. The impact has been felt most acutely by the communities in the Valleys, and most acutely by our most vulnerable. And while the Welsh Government cannot undo these reforms, it will do everything in its power to support people and help them secure skilled, meaningful work. The new innovative technology park, the city deal, the new employability pathways, enterprise and employment, childcare; and children zones will all play their part in the regeneration of our Valleys heart lines.

Finally, the Welsh Labour Government has a clear and firm direction of travel outlined in ‘Taking Wales Forward: 2016-2021’, creating a south Wales metro, working in partnership delivering an extra 20,000 affordable homes, delivering the Cardiff city deal, and £100 million investment in south-east Wales. No wonder, then, that the nation of Wales overwhelmingly voted Welsh Labour in the recent local election and general elections. Why don’t the Tory Members opposite join us tonight and vote in this debate on the side of the many and not the few?