4. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport: Update on the Valleys Taskforce

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:34 pm on 8 December 2020.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 4:34, 8 December 2020

Minister, can I welcome very much the positive approach you've made in your statement to the changes and to the initiatives? One of the dangers that I've always found is that the more you talk down an area, the more it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. When I first became the Assembly Member for Pontypridd, I hesitated to go in and say to businesses, 'How are things?' because you would then have a tirade. But we've talked up Pontypridd, which is a core town for the Valleys, and with the initiatives from Welsh Government and with the local council, you can see the economic transformation that is taking place. 

In view of the limited time I've got, can I just ask this, Minister? One of the key aspects to regeneration is obviously transport. We have some very, very effective rail transport systems that are developing and being improved, but the bus interconnection with our transport system is absolutely fundamental. Too many of our communities do not have the access necessary to either employment or other forms of engagement, and that is a key to economic regeneration. How do you see the transport system becoming part of the Valleys initiative and achieving those objectives that we all want to see occur?