Economic Investment

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy and Transport – in the Senedd at 2:20 pm on 22 January 2020.

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Photo of Rhianon Passmore Rhianon Passmore Labour 2:20, 22 January 2020

Minister, thanks to the interventions of the Welsh Government between 2011 and 2016, the number of people in employment in my constituency of Islwyn has increased by 10.9 per cent, and that is above the Welsh increase of 10.6 per cent. Additionally to this, the number of people unemployed in Islwyn over that time has fallen by more than a half, again exceeding the reduction seen in both Wales and the United Kingdom. Would the Minister agree with me that, in order to build on this important economic performance, high-quality transport infrastructure investment is vital to continue attracting strong inward investment and to supporting more people into good quality high-skilled jobs, such as at Ebbw Vale and in neighbouring communities? Would he therefore give an outline of planned metro investments on the Rhymney line, which also serves Islwyn constituents, over the next five years?