4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government's plans to grow the mid-Wales economy? OAQ51513

Yes. We have developed a strategic approach based on prosperity for all, enabling all parts of Wales to benefit from economic growth. The economic action plan launched in December will work with partners to reflect the very different needs of regions in Wales.

Cabinet Secretary, I thank you for your response. We had a very welcome commitment from the UK Government in terms of the UK Government budget at the end of last year, in terms of supporting a mid Wales growth deal. In fact, I very much welcome your commitment as well to a mid Wales growth deal in responding positively to an Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee recommendation for a mid Wales growth deal as well. The message from both Governments seems to be that this deal has got to be put together by the people of mid Wales themselves. I also agree with that approach. I think it is essential that the Growing Mid Wales partnership now makes a strong case for a mid Wales growth deal. But, in order for them to do that, I wonder if you would be able to offer any financial support to assist in the developing of proposals. Also, I would suggest that what is needed is perhaps a steer from yourself and, indeed, the UK Government in terms of the mechanisms about how they can take forward these proposals.

I thank the Member for his question. I am very pleased to be able to say that I have agreed to provide a match-funding contribution to enable the feasibility work that the Member has identified to take place. Can I thank the Member for the opportunity to attend the stakeholder meeting on 19 January? I will ask one of my officials to attend in my place, to be able to offer not just advice and support, but perhaps also a steer, and also to bring back to me details of what it is that the Growing Mid Wales partnership seeks to include in its vision for the region.

I would like to ask you, Cabinet Secretary, around the mid Wales growth deal, because I was very interested in the announcement in the budget, so I wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer following the budget and had a reply back on 19 December, which says as follows: that the Government is open to proposals for a mid Wales growth deal. That's not the same as a commitment, which has been mentioned by Russell George and others, and I want to understand what commitment there is to invest UK Government money in mid Wales. I welcome what you've just said about a match fund to work up some of the ideas that have been floated around in mid Wales, but are we likely to see real cash on the table from the UK Government, and are you having discussions to make that rather weak half-promise something that we can actually translate into economic activity on the ground in mid Wales?

Well, that's the test: whether they're willing to actually put money aside for something that they say they're open to consider. At the moment, they're open to proposals, and that's why I'm keen to make sure that the Growing Mid Wales partnership develops a set of proposals and an overarching vision that makes a compelling case for developing a subsequent growth deal bid. We are in discussions with the Wales Office insofar as the support that the Wales Office could give to a growth deal bid, but as we develop those proposals, I'm keen to make sure that partners in mid Wales meet with UK Government Ministers as well as myself to take forward this important agenda. I don't think that we can afford to have mid Wales left behind where the rest of Wales develops under city and growth deals. It's simply unjust.