Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:40 pm on 2 February 2021.
First Minister, as you've just said, the chair of the Welsh affairs—the committee, I should say—in Westminster has expressed concerns, and I think we all appreciate that there have been issues with the roll-out and the development of shared prosperity fund. However, according to the UK Government response to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee report, 'Wales and the Shared Prosperity Fund', in December, the fund will, at least, match the current EU structural fund receipts with the intention of targeting places most in need—those mentioned by Alun Davies—such as ex-industrial areas, deprived towns, rural and coastal communities. So, I appreciate that's the UK Government position; it may not be the Welsh Government's position. But how is the Welsh Government planning so that these areas of Wales do indeed ultimately benefit? And how are Welsh Government officials working with or, at least, liaising with the UK Government to make sure that when funding does get up and running those areas will be delivered for?