Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your willingness to have an ongoing dialogue on these issues and issues within your portfolio. The complexity of all of these levels of government created, as well as where accountability lies and where the scrutiny happens—that is what emerges for me, having listened to your statement today.

Specifically, I do have a great concern that the relationship between the citizen and the people making decisions is becoming meaningless and very distant. That has major implications for democracy, where people already feel disempowered in terms of decisions taken on issues that affect them on a daily basis. I’ve said this before, and I am still of the same view.

It’s also a cause of concern for me that you don’t intend to introduce the proportional STV system to all local authorities in Wales. In Scotland, the use of a proportional system is a usual part of democracy, and it does ensure that there is competition for all council seats and that all votes count. I am of the view that allowing individual councils to decide whether they want to introduce a proportional electoral system is going to cause confusion and will mean that it doesn’t happen consistently across Wales and, indeed, that it doesn’t happen at all. I agree that it’s important to give councils the freedom to decide on many issues, but this isn’t one of them.

Before I ask three specific questions, I will be a little more positive and declare Plaid Cymru’s full support for the reduction in the voting age for local elections so that 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote. This has been Plaid Cymru policy over a number of years because we believe that the voice and contribution of young people in the democratic process are crucially important.

I would also welcome that you would support the extension of the franchise so that everyone living, working and studying in Wales can vote. Everyone who calls Wales their home and wants to see Wales succeed—every one of those people should have the opportunity and freedom to participate in elections that impact on their lives.

In turning to my questions, I would like to first of all ask what implications the extension of the franchise in local elections would mean, then, in terms of Assembly elections. What’s the interrelationship between what you’re introducing here and the wider debate on Assembly elections? I was just seeking some clarity there.

On the element of regional working, I’m pleased to see mention of the ability for local authorities to collaborate to develop linguistic and economic strategies for the west of Wales, as we in Plaid Cymru have suggested in this Chamber, as well as the task and finish group on the Welsh language and local government, chaired by Rhodri Glyn Thomas. Following supportive statements from yourself and the First Minister recently on this, I would like to hear what your vision is. What do you think are the benefits of regional collaboration in the west of Wales?

Finally, it appears likely that the Government’s economic strategy will place a major emphasis on regional policy or regional working, although we haven’t seen that strategy as of yet, although it’s a full year since the election. What collaboration has taken place and is taking place between yourself and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure in terms of this relationship between the economic strategy and local government reform? Thank you.