I welcome the cross-cutting approach contained within this delivery plan. When I attended the taskforce’s evidence session in Mountain Ash, there was a breadth of ideas from local people about how we can make the Valleys an ever better place to live and work. This diversity is well captured in the delivery plan, which alongside the expected focus on economic improvement, jobs and skills, also takes a holistic approach that places on record considerations on health, well-being, the environment, and the politics of place. The suite of measures the plan contains are well pitched, both to meet the most pressing challenges facing the Valleys in the early twenty-first century, but also to tackle the long-standing, often generational problems still plaguing our communities. For example, Cwm Taf has the highest number of people in Wales taking antidepressants. This is not new; there is no magic-wand solution, but I am glad that tackling this is accorded equal weighting with enhancing economic performance. Accordingly, I would like to offer my congratulations to the Cabinet Secretary for a comprehensive report, and my thanks to the members of the taskforce for their work over the past few months.

Turning to the detail of the report, I welcome the commitment to maximise the creation of green jobs. Much of the historic economic activity associated with the Valleys has had a damaging environmental impact. Going forward, we must make sure that this is not the case again. Indeed, there are specific opportunities in connection with the green economy. RCT council has ambitious plans for a multi-million pound eco-park development at the Bryn Pica waste management facility. The eco-park will turn more rubbish into a resource, collecting and reusing the waste materials produced on site. The council is also in discussion with various other potential tenants, who recycle paint, mattress textiles, nappies and plastics. If successful, this would be the first of its kind in the UK and I hope the Welsh Government will provide all necessary support for this exciting project.

I also welcome the delivery plan’s priority focus on the development of a Valleys landscape park. This will empower the communities in the south Wales Valleys to work with the public sector to maximise sustainable local benefits from their area’s natural resources. I know, also, there have been discussions between Welsh Government officials and the Ynysybwl Regeneration Partnership. The partnership have secured over £1 million from the Big Lottery for a seven-year community project, and best use of local forestry is key to this. For example, in developing facilities and a visitor centre at Daerwynno outdoor pursuits centre, and creating trail and routes through the local forestry. There are real opportunities here, which could be replicated across the Valleys, and will, in turn, offer benefits to health and mental well-being.

On procurement, also, there are good examples of local Valleys businesses who already have the kind of well-developed supply chains that we need to look to emulate. For example, Carpet Fit Wales, in Aberdare, uses suppliers based in Swansea, Cardiff and Bridgend. They use a local floor manufacturer based in Caerphilly and have HR, IT, design and garage services all provided within the Cynon Valley. This is the kind of point that we've been taking evidence on in the economy committee, stressing the importance of efficient networks. If we don’t maximise this, while also expecting more from procurement, then I think we'll be missing a trick in the Valleys to both boost performance and achieve wider social objectives.

This takes me on to what I feel still pose the biggest challenges to policy objectives, namely the persistent problems of economic inactivity, low pay and poor skills. There’s a heavy focus on skills in the delivery plan, and I certainly hope that these will bear fruit. Carrying forward the most successful elements of Communities First, like Communities for Work, is also key. Where we can scale up something that is already working, we must be bold in doing so.

To close, I think amendment 2 makes an important point. The delivery plan offers an excellent road map to build, from the bottom up, stronger Valleys communities. However, we must take this as the start of the discussion, and ensure we continue having dialogue not just about Valleys communities, but with them. I know this is something that the Cabinet Secretary will be keen to do, and I look forward to working together with him on this.