Tackling Poverty

Part of 2. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:57 pm on 15 January 2019.

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Photo of Leanne Wood Leanne Wood Plaid Cymru 2:57, 15 January 2019

First Minister, I was interested to hear all the things that you listed happening in and around Ebbw Vale during last week's First Minister's questions. You mentioned the starter units at Lime Avenue in Ebbw Vale, planning consent having been secured for a 50,000 sq ft advanced manufacturing facility at Rhyd-y-Blew in the town, and the refurbished 174,000 sq ft derelict building at Rassau in Ebbw Vale for the private sector. Your economy Minister has previously said that £100 million will be allocated to the Tech Valleys in the area over the next 10 years, with the aim of creating 1,500 jobs.

Now, what I, and probably many other Assembly Members representing communities in the former coalfield area, would like to know, is: what about my constituency? The Rhondda is in a similar position to Blaenau Gwent in terms of unemployment statistics and deprivation levels, yet we have been largely ignored by successive Governments, and that's a fact that is confirmed by the Valleys delivery plan. So, what are your plans to make sure that employment opportunities and income generation are spread equitably, and when can we expect to hear an announcement about investment in job creation for the Rhondda?