Now, a key component of Anglesey's economy is, as Rhun has identified, tourism and hospitality. So, the £20 million that has been ring-fenced as part of the third phase of the economic resilience fund will be vitally important to many businesses on the island. We're also looking at how we can use the third phase of the ERF to stimulate employment opportunities for under 25-year-olds. There will be an incentive to take on young people who would otherwise be further marginalised and left behind as we look towards a recovery.

Now, I have to say to Members I do welcome the Chancellor's recent decision to extend the VAT reduction for the hospitality and tourism sector until March of next year. I also welcomed his decision to extend repayment deadlines for businesses that have deferred VAT and provide more flexibility for businesses that have taken out Government-backed loans. Overall, though, the measures announced back on 24 September are unlikely to be sufficient to prevent a large rise in unemployment in the months ahead. 

Here, in Wales, we've made the pledge to support everybody to find work, education or training or to start their own businesses, and we're supporting that pledge with £90 million of funding. The economic recovery group for the north Wales region is also considering how we can collectively deliver support to businesses right across north Wales in line with the significant support that we're already providing across the whole of Wales through the Business Wales service.

In the meantime, we'll continue to press the UK Government to take bolder steps to assure our economic recovery and support future prosperity for businesses and people across the UK. We were, naturally, deeply, deeply disappointed by the announcement by Hitachi back in mid September. And I know, I am acutely aware of how the announcement has been felt on the island, and in particular in the north of Anglesey. It'll impact, as Rhun has identified, not just on Anglesey communities, but also on the north-west of Wales and indeed the wider region of north Wales. Wylfa, though, is still the very best site in the UK and Europe. It's a fantastic site, it's one of the best for large gigabyte scale nuclear or small modular reactors, and I remain confident that this is not the end of the road.

We can only address the challenges we are now facing by working collaboratively for the benefit of the people, businesses and communities of north Wales and Ynys Môn. Co-ordinating and co-designing our short, medium and long-term actions and priorities is a key and that's why I hosted that round-table event that I've already mentioned, which Rhun ap Iorwerth attended. I thought it was a constructive meeting, where we took stock of the Hitachi announcement, naturally, but where we also agreed on our respective roles and responsibilities on the next steps. Several issues were raised at that meeting and, indeed, in pre meetings with the leader of Ynys Môn council. Many have already been raised by Rhun ap Iorwerth, including not only the future of the Wylfa site, obviously, but also other important matters, such as the need to establish a border control post on the island. So, I'll now be holding regular tripartite meetings with the Secretary of State for Wales and the leader of Ynys Môn council to discuss the progress that we are all making on developing these important matters.

In the meantime, of course, we'll continue to provide every support possible to businesses on Anglesey, and Rhun ap Iorwerth has today identified numerous opportunities on the island that we as a Welsh Government are investing in. We're currently working with both Menter Môn and Ynys Môn county council on funding for a feasibility study for a green hydrogen production plant and a fuelling distribution hub on the island, and this will further develop plans to establish an embryonic hydrogen economy on Ynys Môn and for the north-west of Wales as a region.

We're also supporting other businesses, such as Joloda Hydraroll in the community area of Gaerwen, Rondo in Llangefni and, of course, Boxed Solutions at Parc Cybi in Holyhead. All three businesses, either with or following initial Welsh Government funding, are now planning their future expansion programmes, and we're pleased to be able to offer our support to these important projects.

We continue to regularly collaborate with the local authority to further enhance the business-ready infrastructure, such as transport links and other benefits that can be realised within the Anglesey enterprise zone. We've recently invested £1.6 million, as part of a joint venture with the local authority, to deliver 30,000 square feet of new industrial starter units at Penrhos, which are due for completion just next month.

On energy, hugely important, as Rhun has identified, not just in terms of providing employment, but in giving the island, and indeed north Wales, a great positive image. Ynys Môn is leading the way; it's leading the way in terms of innovation, ensuring flexibility and smart approaches to electricity networks. The island is also becoming a hub for tidal stream development, but further development will be dependent on revenue support from the UK Government. I can assure Members that we'll be providing further evidence for the need for UK Government revenue support for marine technologies in the current call for evidence. And I'm proud that Wales has two zones for demonstrating wave and tidal streams arrays, reducing some of the uncertainties that lead to a high cost of capital and providing developers with opportunities. Both are supported with EU funding, one being the Morlais site in Anglesey.

Rhun ap Iorwerth also mentioned another key sector for Ynys Môn, that being the food production sector, and I was delighted that one of the most innovative proposals to the foundation and economy challenge fund came from Anglesey. It was the Môn shellfish programme, which is seeking to introduce more shellfish into schools, community centres, introducing people to what is, actually, a relatively simple way of cooking—I know that, because I took part in one of their cookery classes—and I'm hopeful that this particular challenge fund innovation will be a great success. All of the indications are that it already has been, in many communities across Ynys Môn.

And, of course, the Island Games success that Rhun has pointed to. What a fantastic shot in the arm; we desperately needed good news, and Team Ynys Môn delivered it for us. And I was delighted that, as Welsh Government, we were able to sign off at £400,000 to help secure and deliver this fantastic event.

I have to mention the growth deal, of course, the north Wales growth deal. It's progressing well and it will be an important component of future recovery across north Wales. There will be several opportunities, as I know Members are aware, for projects on Anglesey through the growth deal. It provides an opportunity for north Wales to bring forward renewable energy and innovative low-carbon projects, and we're exploring the wider potential of Holyhead port as a fine gateway to north Wales and to the UK. So, I remain focused, I can assure Members, on signing that final deal agreement, the growth deal, by the end of this year, with the North Wales Economic Ambition Board and the UK Government, so that capital investment can start flowing through the region and to Ynys Môn in 2021. So, I'll naturally keep Members updated, and I'll work across party political divide in a concerted and collaborative effort to strengthen the economy and the communities of Ynys Môn.