Part of 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services – in the Senedd at 2:31 pm on 29 November 2017.
Over the years, the Member for east Carmarthenshire has called for more strategic thinking in the Valleys and elsewhere in Wales, and has called for less of a pork-barrel approach to politics—I think you've made a number of different interventions along those lines, and I have always agreed with you on those matters. But, in the last few months, since these strategic hubs have been announced, I've received one letter from the Member for the Rhondda, asking for a strategic hub in the Rhondda, and another from yourself, asking for one in Ammanford. I'm not sure that always outlines the strategic thinking that you've had in mind. [Interruption.] The Member's called for strategic thinking.
What I will say to him is that each one of the seven hubs—I would be happy to consider developing a model, I have to say, but each of the seven strategic hubs is linked to the metro, is linked to public transport, is led both by local authorities, informed by the work being done on the city deals, and also by the Welsh Government. And that is why we're going through a process of seminars at the moment to ensure that we do understand what exactly we're trying to achieve with each one of these hubs.
But I will say to the Member that it is important that we do look across the whole of the Valleys region. The points he makes about the western Valleys are well made, and recognised; I accept those points. And I think we do need to look at how we constantly ensure that we're able to reach people across the whole of the Valleys regions. And I think that is a challenge that we accept, and a challenge I hope we will meet.