4. Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition: COVID-19 Reconstruction — Challenges and Priorities

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:08 pm on 6 October 2020.

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Photo of Alun Davies Alun Davies Labour 4:08, 6 October 2020

I'm grateful to the Minister for his statement this afternoon. Minister, I was reading through the document you published earlier today, and I must say I welcome both the nature of the document, the tone of the document and the proposals that you're making in the document. But I want to ensure as well that the ambition and the vision that you've clearly explained in that document is one that the people I represent in Blaenau Gwent will also share.

I was particularly interested in three of the points you made in terms of your priorities—employment, town centres and public transport—because when I look at the community I represent I'm not entirely convinced that the normal we experienced a year ago was what we wanted to experience. I'm not entirely sure that our normal was the normal that we would want to see for many of our communities, and you know that I will have brought issues to this place on numerous occasions about the economy of Blaenau Gwent, the need to invest in the future of our communities and the connectivity of Blaenau Gwent.

Now, if we are to realise the ambition, the test for the Welsh Government is not succeeding in Cardiff or Chepstow, all due respect, but succeeding in Tredegar, Nantyglo or even on the Sofrydd. That is where the test will be. Now, I would like to understand from you, Minister, how you intend to pass that test. How will you ensure that communities in Blaenau Gwent will feel the benefit of this programme? How will you ensure that Blaenau Gwent has the investment in our economic future, has the investment in the future of our town centres and the investment in the future of our people? I'm particularly interested in the three points about jobs, about town centres and about public transport. Thank you very much.