7. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the north Wales metro? OAQ52073

Yes, of course. Since announcing our vision last year, we are making very good progress in developing key integrated transport hubs across the region, with an early focus on Deeside and Wrexham. As the latest stage of that work, I recently announced funding of £1.8 million to support rail, bus and active travel improvements in Deeside.

I'd like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for the answer. As you know, the north-east Wales metro and improved integrated transport system is an ambitious plan that is certainly welcomed by myself and my constituents in Alyn and Deeside. I was very pleased to welcome you to Deeside last month to see and learn more about the plans for improved transport links, especially on the Deeside industrial estate. But rural areas are often forgotten about, so I'm particularly pleased that you share my ambition for those areas to be fully connected as well. Would the Cabinet Secretary agree with me that investment in areas like these—both urban and rural areas—is key to the continued economic success of Alyn and Deeside and, indeed, the north-east Wales region?

Yes, I would. Rural areas should not be left at a disadvantage by virtue of having fewer transport links. Whether it might be rail or buses, we need to make sure that the right levels of investment are being pumped into rural communities, and I'm pleased to be able to tell the Member that we have decided to set up a north Wales business unit at Transport for Wales to take forward work across urban and rural communities. I've also established a cross-border steering group, which is working on various projects as part of the metro vision, and I'm pleased to say that we are taking forward work on a number of hubs as well, not just in Deeside, which I was pleased to join the Member in visiting, but also at Wrexham. We're looking at other hub developments in St Asaph, in Abergele and many other communities, ensuring that major urban areas are better connected to one another, but that they are also better connected to rural communities.

Thank you very much, Cabinet Secretary.