Can I thank the Government for bringing forward this debate today on the work of the Valleys taskforce? What I think we can now see is the vital shift taking place in the work of the taskforce as it moves to the funding and delivery of projects. And, before I go on, can I add my thanks to that of the Deputy Minister to my colleague Alun Davies, who spent a huge amount of time and energy on the first phase of the work of the Valleys taskforce? When I joined the taskforce earlier this year, it was very clear that there was a substantial foundation of work and project ideas, so thank you, Alun, for your part in that.

Having seen that strong foundation established, it has allowed the taskforce to move to the implementation that we now see of the delivery of projects. Indeed, the announcement in recent days of a package of funding for parks and heritage sites is an important part of turning some of that vision into reality. These sites are the initial gateways to a wider strategic vision for the landscape and environment of the Valleys communities, and many of them, like Cyfarthfa Park in my own constituency are, of course, highly valued by the local community. And, while this might be a parochial consideration, it's certainly my hope that this round of investment in Cyfarthfa Park is a stepping stone to the much bigger ambition that we hold to tell the story of this site and this community and its wider environment, with the development of the Crucible project.

In a way, it's that word 'ambition' that projects my hope for the continuing work of the taskforce, because the deep-rooted challenges that we face in many of our Valleys communities require us to hold an ambition for transformation. We know that there's no single solution to the variety of challenges that we face, so a key part of our solution has to be found in our ambition—our ambition to combat negative and outdated stereotypes, our ambition to continue scaling up our responses based on a long-term commitment to the Valleys, a long-term commitment that I believe will be the key to its success. And that ambition must now see us deliver the final stage of the improvements to the A465 Heads of the Valleys road to ensure that we have the economic strategy that co-ordinates the potential of the new route. So, I was very pleased to hear the Deputy Minister confirm that we have not just spent billions of pounds to fund a bypass, but that we have invested in a means to unlock new potential in the communities along that route, and I look forward to being part of the group that will look at how we can do that. 

And that Heads of the Valleys route of course must also be considered as part of the wider transport and economic solutions to pressures in other parts of the south Wales region. So, it's right that the Welsh Government and partners continue to play their part in that. For example, the investment in the metro system, trains, buses and other forms of transport that we discussed at the event in Merthyr last week means that we can speed up journey times and use the power of Government to place jobs in the Valleys—vital if we are to meet our objectives of better jobs closer to home, and Pontypridd is a good example of that at present. But when I hear people tell me how it will be good to see speedier journey times to Cardiff, my response is always that it will also be good for people in Cardiff to only have to travel 45 minutes to work in Merthyr Tydfil or Rhymney. Our ambition must change those mindsets. 

So, can I ask the Deputy Minister, in addition to the work that you've already outlined in today's debate, that in the next 12 months we ensure that the commitment to the Valleys taskforce is the commitment to our ambition and that it is embedded in the long-term plans for our Government? Such commitment is needed to ensure that the projects that we deliver in 2019, 2020 and 2021 are stepping stones to the wider ambitions that we hold for the Valleys, with communities, economies and an environment in which we can all take pride because we've helped to deliver a brighter future for them.