8. Will the First Minister provide an update on the Swansea Bay city deal? (OAQ51002)

It’s making good progress, developing the proposals that will unlock Government funding.

Thank you for that answer. Later today, of course, we’ll be debating the parliamentary review on health and social care, which has already identified the underexploited potential of information technology and other life science technology in the reformation of those services, and for me, this has got Swansea bay city deal written all over it. What recent discussions have you had with the local government leaders about pinning down the governance structure, with balanced representation from the private sector—you mentioned the ports earlier—so that we can see some accelerated activity on the deal?

These are issues ultimately, as I say, for local authorities, but I’m confident that the governance structure that they have in place is appropriate and effective, and we will work with them, as will the UK Government, to continue to deliver the city deal. I have to say what will be immensely important in terms of delivery for Swansea will be the delivery of the Swansea bay tidal lagoon. And even though we know that an independent review has said it should move forward, we still have no action from the UK Government. I’m sure she shares this frustration as well. This has been months and months and months and months when no—. I mean, this is not an isolated example, is it, when no decision has been taken on a project that would deliver 1,000 jobs and that would help to revitalise many of our ports? That would help immensely the Swansea bay area, working, of course, in tandem, with the city deal itself.

Just on that point, the tidal lagoon development will also enhance opportunities for ports in the Swansea bay city region, and I was pleased to attend a reception last week in Westminster with the Minister, Ken Skates, discussing the opportunities for our ports. How important is it that marine energy, however it’s developed, is part of enhancing the opportunities for ports and also opportunities to enhance the Swansea bay deal?

It’s vital, because we know, of course, that if energy is created in the sea, we have to have places where we can produce the machinery and to ensure that the machinery is also maintained. And, of course, there are opportunities for ports such as Port Talbot, to create jobs and to rebuild some parts of the docks there. But we don’t have any answer from the United Kingdom Government, because it’s definitely the way forward to create green energy, and it’s the way forward on job generation here in Wales, but we have to have a positive answer from the UK Government.

Thank you, First Minister.