8. How does the Welsh Government intend to ensure that Islwyn builds back better from the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ55665

Llywydd, I thank Rhianon Passmore for that. The Welsh Government published our recovery plan today. We are committed to a reconstruction that works for all parts of Wales, including Islwyn, by addressing the issues that matter to people most: tackling unemployment, addressing entrenched inequalities, providing affordable housing, the revitalisation of our town centres, and supporting the foundational economy.

Thank you, First Minister. As the Member of the Senedd for Islwyn, I warmly welcome this publication by the Welsh Government of its policy and strategy paper. Within the 'Covid 19 Reconstruction: Challenges and Priorities' paper, the Minister states that

'The Welsh Government wants to be open to new ideas and to constructive challenge, so part of this work must be a national conversation. We want to know what matters to you. To start that conversation, we asked people to get in touch through OurFutureWales@gov.wales and tell us what they want our future Wales to look like.'

This is a positive and hopeful dialogue to build back better. So, First Minister, will you pledge to the people of Islwyn that the Welsh Government's first priority will be to reduce unemployment and give everyone the opportunity to find and keep work with decent long-term prospects? How will the Welsh Government take this message to all corners of Islwyn and Wales and give the people of Islwyn the chance of employment that they rightfully demand?

Llywydd, can I thank Rhianon Passmore for that? She is right: the Welsh Government is absolutely open to ideas. In fact, over 2,000 contributions came in to my colleague Jeremy Miles's first invitation to people to give us their thoughts upon how a different sort of Wales could emerge from this coronavirus crisis. We are absolutely committed to continuing that dialogue, and to include in our thinking the many, many ideas that come to us, particularly from people who are working at the front line of our communities—doing the jobs, providing the services, reaching out to other people who are vulnerable in those communities. 

Llywydd, I want to give the Member an absolute assurance that, beyond the health service and the coronavirus crisis, jobs are the very top of the agenda here in the Welsh Government, because we are entering a period in which the economic impact of coronavirus is going to be felt in many families and communities across Wales. As we allow the economy itself to recover, we will act as a Welsh Government, as we have through our economic resilience fund, to make sure that there are opportunities there, particularly for our young people, working alongside the Kickstart programme of the UK Government, to create traineeships and apprenticeships to support employers who are prepared to take on young people as part of their businesses. That will be as true in Islwyn as it will be in any other part of Wales. 

And finally question 9—Suzy Davies.