3. How will the Welsh Government evaluate the work of the valleys taskforce in Caerphilly? OAQ53521

Thank you. A range of measures will be used. These will include key indicators, such as employment data, as well as those relating to impact on health, well-being and aspirations. The taskforce is taking forward a number of key commitments within Caerphilly, and their impact will form part of the evaluation.

It has to be said, the Deputy Minister for the economy has long championed the everyday economy. That was before he was Deputy Minister, and indeed before he was an Assembly Member, when he was plain old Lee Waters. One of the critiques I've had of the—[Interruption.] Well, there's nothing plain about Lee Waters. One of the critiques I've had of the Valleys taskforce is that the focus of the delivery plan has been in areas that are central and accessible in my constituency, which is good, but I would say we need to be growing and developing the everyday economy in areas that are harder to reach, like the Aber Valley, Nelson, Senghenydd and Bargoed. Can you give the assurance that the Welsh Government will focus on that, and, particularly, that that will be a key task for the Deputy Minister?

Yes. Thank you. I am aware you have recently written to the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport in relation to these issues, and I know he's offered to meet with you formally to discuss the matter further. The Deputy Minister is doing a great deal of work around the Valleys taskforce at the moment. I know he's had discussions with members of the taskforce itself. He's meeting with each of the Valleys local authority leaders, with a view to looking at how the taskforce can better align with the foundational economy and Better Jobs Closer to Home. He's also asked the local authority leaders for some examples of best practice, so that that can be spread right across the Valleys areas. So, for example, Rhondda Cynon Taf's approach to regenerating empty homes through property improvement grants—that has the potential to bring about 1,000 homes back into use. And he's also looking at how we can learn from the twenty-first century schools model of funding. So, again, we can apply that approach to examples of good practice across the Valleys. I know the Minister has also spoken to the Deputy Minister about the need to ensure that the foundational economy is absolutely embedded into the Valleys taskforce, and I think the taskforce has been really important in bringing a focus on the Valleys within the Welsh Government.

Minister, do you agree with me that the best way to evaluate the work of the Valleys taskforce in Caerphilly and elsewhere is to set clear objectives and targets so that the progress of the strategy can be measured by Government, organisations and the public in the interests of transparency and accountability? But that is not the case at the moment. Would you please explain why?

Well, we are using 16 of the national well-being indicators, which we will be able to use to measure at a Valleys level. They will be assessed over time. They may need to change over time. So, that's what we'll be doing. We'll also be having a Valleys citizens survey. That's examining people's attitudes towards the south Wales Valleys region, specifically the area covered by the Valleys taskforce initiative. Those research findings will build on our understanding of the views of the people in the Valleys. They will be able to help us measure the ongoing progress of the Valleys taskforce. We're also collating information on the data sources currently being used by policy areas across Welsh Government to track progress and outcomes across their respective Valleys taskforce delivery plan actions. It's completely cross-Government. 

We're also working very closely with partners in Caerphilly—that's to deliver a number of commitments within 'Our Valleys, Our Future: Delivery Plan', which will include strengthening the strategic hubs. So, we've got a great deal of monitoring going on to make sure that we are on track.