Thank you very much, Presiding Officer, and I'm grateful to you for providing this opportunity to inform Members about the latest updates that we have made to our ambitions and plans for the south Wales Valleys. This is set out in the 'Our Valleys, Our Future' delivery plan.

Just a few months ago, in July, I had the pleasure of updating Members about the first 12 months of progress since we published 'Our Valleys, Our Future'. Since then, the ministerial taskforce for the south Wales Valleys has been reviewing its work and the more than 60 actions that we identified in the delivery plan, to ensure that they are still fit for purpose, and will continue to contribute to our three overarching priorities. Members will remember the three priorities at the heart of the taskforce’s work were based on the feedback we received from people living and working in the Valleys. They told us that they wanted good jobs and the skills to do them, better public services and improvements, and a focus on their local community. This year’s update of the delivery plan has focused attention on those areas, which add real value to Valleys communities.

We have identified new actions and programmes that will make a positive difference over the next 12 months, such as a focus on maximising the benefits of the investment on the A465 corridor for local communities alongside this important development. We know the improved transport links for the Heads of the Valleys have the potential to unlock new housing developments and tourism, new job opportunities, and economic development for the region. The investment in the dualling of this road has to be measured and understood in the increased economic activity and the creation of new opportunities, which will flow from the dualling of the A465. The taskforce has been working with stakeholders and partners to identify and build on these opportunities for investment associated with the dualling project.

Over the next 12 months, we will continue this work to develop priority areas for the Heads of the Valleys. Deputy Presiding Officer, I recently announced a £25 million capital fund to support the seven strategic hubs over the next two years. Local authorities in the hub areas have led the development of the blueprints for long-term improvements in each strategic hub. Working with the Valleys authorities and the Cardiff capital region city deal we will confirm further details of the plans for the seven hubs in the new year.