Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:45 pm on 23 March 2021.
I think that you've given a very unbalanced reflection of the work of the Valleys taskforce, which I think has had some really significant impacts in Rhondda Cynon Taf and elsewhere. Of course, I'm thinking about interventions such as the significant work done in terms of bringing underused and unused housing back into use, which has been particularly important, the important role and contribution of the Valleys taskforce in terms of the Better Jobs Closer to Home projects, and also the Big Bocs Bwyd schemes, which have been very important in terms of tackling food poverty in communities. So, I think it has been a successful programme, and part of the success, I think, is based on the fact it was very much ground up. This was very much a programme and a taskforce that was involved in listening to communities, understanding what the priorities and concerns were. And all of those concerns related to aspects such as the importance of jobs and skills, and I think the Valleys taskforce does have a good story to tell and a good legacy in that respect.