We now move to the short debate. If Members are going out of the Chamber, please do so quickly and quietly. I call on David Rees to speak on the topic that he has chosen. David.

Diolch, Dirprwy Llywydd, and I appreciate it's been a long day, but I think it's an important area to discuss and I welcome the opportunity to deliver the short debate on the social fabric and future well-being of our Valleys communities. I'd like to inform the Senedd that I've given time to Dawn Bowden to contribute to this debate.

In this short debate, I want to address the aspects of our Valleys communities that influence the social well-being and cohesion of those who live there and how these factors have changed the economic and political landscape of the Valleys. I will also consider the influence that Welsh Government policy has had, and could have, on those communities as well as address the impact of the UK Government's unnecessary austerity agenda.

To understand what is meant by 'social fabric', it's useful perhaps to reflect upon the unique history of the Valleys and compare that to where we are today. Wales has a proud heritage of industrial past, which has shaped our history and defined our landscape. At the heart of our industrial heritage are the Valleys communities, which, as we know, were highly influenced by the coal and metals industries. These were deeply integrated communities, which relied heavily on one another for support and in which many social and public activities occurred. And, as a result, the strength of respect and spirit that was evident in these communities could not be ignored. The social interactions and understandings between those who lived in the Valleys formed a strong social fabric, which bound those communities together.

Since the de-industrialisation of these communities in the latter half of the twentieth century, many well-documented challenges have arisen around employment opportunities, transport and infrastructure as well as inequalities across health, well-being and education. Whilst these challenges exist and must not be ignored, they do not define the Valleys. The strong sense of culture and community endures. However, that is now at risk. The challenge for the Welsh Government is not only to invest further in the Valleys, but also to work closely with those communities to ensure that voices are heard and that people are empowered to take a lead on key Government policy decisions that relate to and will influence social interaction and the living community in the Valleys.

Whereas collective employment in mining communities once bound the Valleys together, we are now facing a new economic landscape. As a result, a number of challenges have arisen. In the past, thriving, industrial and tight-knit Valleys maintained a dynamic, cultural identity as community participation around shared employment influenced the social cohesion of the area. These communities were not responsible for their own economic decline, and the response must be to reinforce this sense of community identity and culture. The history and heritage of the Valleys, along with the culture and arts, are all key components of mining communities, and it is these things that increase enthusiasm and support for change, whilst maintaining the invaluable social cohesion.

Day in, day out, I see the potential for greater success and prosperity in my own constituency. However, I have to raise this important point, as despite the vision and investment being put into the Valleys by the Welsh Government, all of which I welcome, Cabinet Secretary—so, you can say that on the record now—we cannot get away from the fact that this positive work is being undertaken against the backdrop of the UK Tory Government's austerity agenda. The past eight years of austerity have inevitably had an impact on public service budgets in Wales, and every year that has gone by, there is less money available to invest in vital non-statutory local services. Our councils are facing greater financial constraints than ever because of Westminster austerity cuts being passed down to them, which now threaten the delivery of statutory services. As Westminster spending cuts to welfare and public services are inflicting damage on our public services, it is imperative that we continue to find solutions to support our young people into work, help the vulnerable in our communities and better connect our Valleys with the towns and cities across Wales.

Since the Assembly was established, there has been significant amount of support for the Welsh Valleys provided by the Welsh Government. It is essential to look at the effectiveness of these programmes as we look forward to what lies ahead for these areas.

Communities First is now coming to an end, and in my particular valley, the Afan valley, it has had a positive influence upon many individuals, community groups and their neighbourhoods, as well as in other locations across Wales that I'm aware of. That is one programme we were fully supportive of, and it was a flagship for the Welsh Government for many years. The Valleys taskforce and the publication of 'Our Valleys, Our Future' has set out a number of key priorities to support good quality jobs and skills, greater public services and local communities. Now, this group of experts represents key sectors across the Valleys, and this work has been underpinned by continuing engagement with the communities. I want to see this continue, to ensure that the voices of the Valleys shape the way in which this taskforce continues to operate, though it still doesn't involve all the Valleys at this point in time; it's still limited in who it gets.

Now, this vision is more important than ever, especially considering the UK Government's decision to plough on with its flawed austerity policy, which means that, here in Wales, we're facing more cuts to our budgets as they continue to reduce the impact on our welfare, on our vulnerable people, on our society. The finance Secretary reminded us only last week, in a response to a question on council tax increases in Wales, that the eight years of austerity in public services causes great challenges to local authorities as they try to deliver the vital work in our communities. I will quote the 'Our Valleys, Our Future' publication, where it says success can

'only be achieved if communities are fully involved' in the design and delivery of the planned action. I couldn't agree more with that, Cabinet Secretary, but it is important that my constituents' voices are heard loud and clear in that process, and we need to get it right. There are a number of key areas that must be prioritised. We must look to the future, whilst remembering our rich industrial past, harnessing the spirit to deliver social change that binds communities together and allows young people to thrive. Throughout all this work and change, we must also ensure that the principles that are enshrined in our well-being of future generations Act underpin our actions.

We know local government bears the brunt of the UK Government's austerity agenda. Now, last year, the Wales Public Services 2025 report found that functions, including transport, protection, culture, libraries, environmental services, have carried the weight of the budget reductions, being hollowed out by up to 40 per cent. Public transport is often difficult to sustain. Better connectivity throughout south Wales is vital, and we must ensure these improvements enable greater capacity and improved frequency of travel. I am very pleased the taskforce is looking broadly across all the Valleys, as it provides us with a real opportunity to create a transport system that will benefit people who live and work in the Valleys—although, in the Afan valley, there is very limited delivery at the moment, so there is still much work to be done. When we consider improvements to our transport networks in the Valleys, we must stress the importance of getting those furthest from the labour market physically better connected to good jobs throughout south Wales, though even better would be bringing those jobs closer to the communities.

Many Valleys communities find themselves isolated from the employment opportunities that exist across south Wales and, for our young people, this is not good enough. And when we talk about better jobs closer to home, the solution to this vision should not simply be an increased level of public sector employment opportunities. Whilst these roles are important and often serve the local community through delivering vital services, there's also a key role for the private sector in building investment and offering new opportunities across our region, and we want to see a Valleys community that is able to make the most of skills and the opportunities that exist from within. For example, at home in my own constituency, we have the Afan valley resort being proposed, which will make use of our unique natural landscape to develop what will be, hopefully, a popular location providing employment opportunities to people in the locality, and to boost tourism not just in my valley, but across all the Valleys, because of the other services and other activities that will be available elsewhere and close by. It will build on the Valleys as a place for leisure, tourism and wider public sector investment.

Bringing new jobs for people is vitally important, but we also have to look at the skills agenda, which is very crucial, because, as we talk about new jobs and opportunities, we must maximise also the foundational economy as well. We need a set of skills. Now, there is a shortage of skills, which we acknowledge, and we must improve that to attract businesses into the Valleys. The regional skills partnerships are working to analyse the economic challenges and identify the growth areas where skill gaps exist within the workforce, and that requires a collaborative approach from training providers through to businesses, to ensure the next generation will learn the skills in the future. It's important that skills development starts in our schools, and if we are to have a robust policy for our Valleys, we must ensure that the educational needs are delivered within them, ensuring that this vital aspect of social cohesion remains in the heart of those communities and is not seen to be transferred to other areas and once again depriving our Valleys communities of a critical component of that social fabric. For example—and you would expect me to say this—the current proposals within the Afan valley to close the local secondary school, Cymer Afan, and transfer out the pupils to a new school outside the valley has actually ignited the embers of a fire that previously existed within the valley's communities, and has now ignited into a rolling blaze, and reminded us of the role that the school plays in the social cohesion across the valley. This latest proposed loss of a public service—and it is a public service—on top of the losses of other public services, reinforces the impact that austerity is having in those communities. It is incumbent upon the Welsh Government to protect the social fabric that is now threadbare, and to act in accordance with the well-being of future generations legislation to strengthen even this basic need within a valley, and to re-assert the cohesion that has existed within those communities. They must no longer feel abandoned and left behind.

In concluding this short debate, I want to reiterate my key points around listening to our communities, and delivering a plan that provides our Valleys with what they want and need. I acknowledge that this challenge has been made all the more difficult because of the austerity agenda, which has been presided over by an unsympathetic UK Tory Government, and the impact of those eight years of austerity on our public service delivery in Wales. It means there is less money available to support those communities that are so desperate for that support, and that are some of our most vulnerable. But for policymakers here in the National Assembly, despite these financial restraints, which are down to that ideology of austerity, we need to recognise that spirit, that social fusion, which has been the glue of Valleys communities. We need to make sure that that continues to thrive. We must harness that energy and enthusiasm to work with people to build a future where well-being and opportunity for those who live and work in the Valleys is not exclusive, but for everyone.

What have become isolated communities, which are physically and economically vulnerable to changes in the political landscape, now have the potential to become part of a broader vision for Wales, and, in particular, south Wales, whilst retaining their unwavering community spirit and resilience. Cabinet Secretary, it is important that we now take that opportunity. 

Dirprwy Llywydd, I think Dai Rees has said it all. The damage caused by austerity to the social fabric of our communities harms us all. I've become tired of hearing Tory voices in this Chamber calling on the Welsh Government to invest more in our services, yet we never hear those same voices raise any condemnation over the £1 billion or more that their Government has cut from our budget. Never do we hear expressions of outrage at the billions—yes, that's billions—to be removed by welfare cuts. 

And while we talk of austerity, let's remember that that is a political choice, and for austerity let's read 'Tory cuts'—Tory cuts to our Valleys communities, Tory cuts harming the future of our children, Tory cuts hitting the most vulnerable, Tory cuts to public services that sit at the very heart of the well-being of so many Valleys communities. And those are the reasons why I'll stand alongside Dai Rees and all my Welsh Labour colleagues here and in Westminster to argue that there is a better way—a better way to build a community for the many and not the few, a better way to build a community that believes in public services and invest in the infrastructure that we all need to bring prosperity and cohesion back to our Valleys.  

Thank you. Can I now call the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services to reply to the debate? Alun Davies. 

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. It's a pleasure in lots of different ways to reply to this debate. David Rees started his contribution describing the social and economic history of the communities of the Valleys, and I think a mistake that's quite often made is to see the Valleys as one homogenous whole, whereas, in fact, all of us here who represent Valleys constituencies will know that all of those constituencies and all of those communities share a very similar culture, but are themselves important and have their own needs, which we recognise and identify. I know the Deputy Presiding Officer is the voice of Rhyl in this place, and she recognises the importance of communities, and so long as we have the voice of Rhyl over our proceedings we know that the importance of communities will always be an important part of our deliberations here. 

In many ways, the contribution that the Member for Aberavon has brought to the Chamber this afternoon is a description of modern Wales. My family was a family that left mid Wales—the Aberystwyth area—to work in the growing coalfields of Tredegar. Many thousands made that journey and created a culture that is identifiably Welsh and recognised the world over as something that has a unique place in the Valleys of south Wales. And we have a unique responsibility to ensure that those communities remain the focus of deliberations here, and the culture, identity and community is absolutely central to that. The Member for Islwyn joined the debate this afternoon and I know that she is constantly talking about the importance of our music and our heritage and musical activities in the Valleys and Valleys communities. That's something I share as well and it's something that I hope we will all be able to focus upon.

One of the issues I have to address later this evening is that of looking at Merthyr and the crucible of the industrial revolution. Gwyn Alf Williams, I think it was, spoke about the arc of fire from Blaenavon to Merthyr that forged the modern world. We're still living in that world, of course, and that world, today, is facing challenges that are not of its own making and not of the making of the people who live there and the people who work there, but changes that have been forced upon those people by outsiders and by people who have little care for those communities.

The points made by the Member for Merthyr on austerity are well made and well recognised. When I think about the community I represent in the Valleys of south Wales, I feel very strongly that we and they and us, together, are on the front line of austerity. Many Members on all sides of the Chamber will talk sometimes in quite an academic sort of fashion about the economy and the wider macro economy of Wales, the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe. But for people in the Valleys, they're seeing the reality of austerity; how austerity can impact a community, can stop that community from being able to make its way in the world and can prevent people from achieving what we would all expect to see and want for our families. It is the real human cost of austerity that I think we're seeing in the Valleys at the moment. But we're also seeing the result of many decades of decline. The issues facing us in the Valleys weren't issues that were created by the financial crash in 2008 or 2009. They weren't simply the creation of the twenty-first century. But we recognise that, through most of the twentieth century, we didn't see economic success in the Valleys of south Wales; we didn't see the investment that we required in order to move from an economy that is dominated by the heavy industries described by the Member for Aberavon.

What I want to see and what we want to see together, I hope, is an injection of investment in these communities, but it is more than that—we want to create a renaissance of these communities in the Valleys. And, I hope that the work that we're doing—. Members have already referred to the work of the Valleys taskforce. That is a plan not for the Valleys, but it's a plan from the Valleys, written in the Valleys and spoken by voices from the Valleys. We have spent and invested a great deal of time in talking and listening to what people have to say from all parts of the Valleys, because one of the issues we face—. The Counsel General joined us for the introductory speeches here. Now, the communities he represents in what I would regard as the western Valleys—the Neath valley and elsewhere—have expectations that are different from those of us in the Valleys of Monmouthshire and the Valleys of Gwent. It is important that we recognise the perspective of everybody in those places. There are issues that are common to all those places, and Members have already made reference to local issues around local transport and the future of our town centres—they are absolutely crucial to us and to what we want to do.

But, more than anything, what we want to be able to do is invest in the economy and have a sustainable economic model that will sustain communities. It isn't my purpose and it isn't my wish simply to deliver industrial parks and industrial estates and housing estates in Valleys communities. What I want to do and what I think we all want to be able to do is to ensure that we are able to create a sustainable economic base for communities in the Valleys. And the connection with who we are, I believe, is absolutely essential. We had an exchange earlier with the Member for Monmouthshire, Nick Ramsay, who was talking about his part of the world, but for me, growing up in Tredegar, that part of our country was almost a playground for me. I would cycle from Tredegar into the national park, over Trefil and down to Talybont, into Llangynidr, across to Abergavenny and elsewhere. We saw ourselves as part of a wider community. It wasn't simply a Valleys coalfield community, but it was a community that was linked to other places, and one of the things I'm hoping we can do as part of this work in the Valleys is to reconnect ourselves with that heritage and with that history and with that sense of place.

One of the books I'm reading at the moment is on those long-distance walks that we have connecting some of the religious sites, the pilgrimage sites, in Valleys communities from Penrhys across to St David's, but I hope we can reintroduce, if you like, or find a way of learning and enabling us to appreciate, the history and the heritage that gave life to the places in which we live today, whilst at the same time ensuring that we are able to look again and invest in our economic foundations. I want to be able to deliver an industrial policy, an industrial strategy, Deputy Presiding Officer, for the Valleys of south Wales that looks to ensure that we have the quality of life that we want to have, but that quality of life needs to be measured in more than simply GDP figures. It's a quality of life that reflects our rich heritage and who we are and who we want to be.

There are numerous interventions that we're delivering, from the employability delivery plan through to the economic action plan. A number of seminars are taking place. I was delighted that the Member for Merthyr was able to join us for a seminar, I think it was six weeks ago, in Merthyr, looking at how we maximise the impact of the dualling of the A465, the Heads of the Valleys road, to enable us to maximise the impact and to stimulate economic activity in that part of the world. I know that the Member for Aberavon who's sponsored the debate this afternoon also wants to ensure, and needs to ensure, that we're able to invest in those Valleys that he represents above Port Talbot, and to maximise the impact of investments that are taking place there. I won't accept his invitation to venture into the dispute on the location of the school in his constituency. That's beyond my pay grade and beyond my ability this afternoon in a short debate. I've been tempted into temptation, as you know, before, Deputy Presiding Officer, and that's always led to trouble. I won't give in to temptation this afternoon.

But what I will do is give you and Members an absolute undertaking that this is a Government that is rooted in the Valleys of south Wales—not to the exclusion of other communities, but we recognise that the Valleys face particular problems and particular issues, and we recognise that needs particular answers, answers that are not found on Google or found in the library, but answers that are found in the minds and imaginations and ambitions of the people: those of us who represent the Valleys, were born in the Valleys, live in the Valleys, and the people of the Valleys. Because together I believe that we can drive real change, we can lead change. I want to invest in our local authorities and I want our local authorities to lead that change as well. So, working together we can create communities in the Valleys of south Wales that we will be proud to live in, and proud to hand on to future generations. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. That brings today's proceedings to a close.

The meeting ended at 19:43.