1. Will the First Minister outline how the economic priorities set out in the programme for government are delivering for people in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney? OAQ53102

We're delivering a range of actions, including the establishment of the Valleys taskforce, to support a stronger, fairer economy, and to allow businesses to develop, to grow and to prosper not only in Merthyr and Rhymney, of course, but across the whole of Wales.

Thank you for that answer, First Minister. I know that, across the many elements of the programme for government, you can be proud to have led a Government that's delivering improvements in my constituency. You'll recall that we've opened new schools and refurbished schools, that we've welcomed new investments, including General Dynamics in Pentrebach, Sharp Clinical in Rhymney, and, of course, the ongoing dualling of the Heads of the Valleys road. We're investing over £130 million renewing Prince Charles Hospital, with another £200 million to follow, and we see the regeneration work that's transformed our town centre, and the support for major local tourism attractions, like BikePark Wales and Rock UK. So, can I place on record my thanks to you, Carwyn, for your time as our First Minister, and for the support that you've given my constituency? And can I ask you to assure me that you'll continue to support the delivery of our Welsh Labour values and commitments as vociferously from the backbenches as you have in Government?

Well, that's a particularly tricky question that I've been posed there by my colleague, but I do thank her for her comments and, of course, what she has said. It shows our commitment to investing in all parts of Wales. We've seen a tremendous change in the economy of Merthyr and Rhymney over the past decade, I'd argue, with Merthyr now being seen particularly as a place of investment and jobs, with Tenneco and General Dynamics, of course, being attracted to the area.

I'll continue to be as vociferous as I can be from the backbenches—but not troublesome—in supporting values that I think represent fairness, justice and opportunity. And that is something I know that is shared very, very deeply between myself and the leader of Welsh Labour and, hopefully tomorrow, the First Minister of Wales.

As this is the best occasion, or last occasion, on which you will be answering questions in this Assembly as the First Minister, I hope you will accept my and our sincere best wishes for your future from this side of the Chamber. In this spirit of seasonal goodwill, would you join me in welcoming the fact that, thanks to the economic policies of the Conservative Government in London—[Interruption.]—in London, that the number of people claiming out-of-work benefit in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney has fallen by 55 per cent since 2010, thanks to our policies? Thank you.

Well, there have been occasions, of course, when we've worked with the UK Government—the city deals are an example of that. But if we look, for example, at unemployment in Wales, it is at a level that is at the UK average. Economic inactivity is at a historic low, employment rates are at a historic high, 18,000 young people were able to benefit from Jobs Growth Wales, and, of course, there's the investment that's been put into Merthyr and other communities over many, many years. And we see what happens when a Government commits to the communities of Wales, invests in them and provides jobs for the people who live in them.