6. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the findings of the OECD report, 'The Future of Regional Development and Public Investment in Wales'? OQ55579

Llywydd, the OECD’s model of a more regional and place-based model of economic growth is already at the heart of our economic action plan and the goals we have set for future regional investment. We will consider the report’s recommendations with stakeholders over the coming weeks.

Thank you for that. One of the findings in the report is the impact of the continued austerity inflicted on Wales by the UK Government spending plans. That austerity did reduce local authority investment in industries, and other forms of money that we would have expected to have come to Wales, and it was purely a political decision.

So, what discussions have you had with the UK Chancellor to highlight the impact that their politically imposed austerity measures are having, and will have, on Wales if they carry on along that track? And will you ask Simon Hart, the Secretary of State for Wales, to start acting in the interests of Wales and respect the devolution settlement?

Well, very important points, Llywydd, made there by Joyce Watson. There's no doubt, is there, that the whole of the United Kingdom is less able to withstand the shocks of coronavirus and Brexit because of a decade of austerity: household incomes, public services, private businesses all undermined by the flawed and foolish policies pursued at that time. The budget of the Welsh Government is £4 billion lower today than it would have been had it simply stayed where it was 10 years ago. Not an iota of growth. If we'd simply stayed, in real terms, where we were a decade ago, £4 billion more to invest in our public services and all of the other urgent needs that we have here in Wales. We continue to take every opportunity that we have with the Chancellor, through the actions of my colleague Rebecca Evans, to urge the UK Government to use the historic low interest rates that we have for an infrastructure boost to the UK and to the Welsh economy in the comprehensive spending review.

On 30 June, Llywydd, the Prime Minister announced a new deal in infrastructure spending. For Wales, it was no deal, because not a single penny came to us for this year for any infrastructure boost. So, it would be very good if we had a Wales Office that stood up for Wales, that was the voice of Wales in Westminster, rather than the parrot of Westminster in Wales. And, in that way, we might be able to make some inroads into the difficulties and damage that has already been inflicted on us.

Thank you, First Minister.