Economic Priorities

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:39 pm on 26 May 2021.

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Photo of John Griffiths John Griffiths Labour 1:39, 26 May 2021

First Minister, our city and town centres are very important for economic activity and jobs, and very important in other ways, as places for people to meet up, in terms of that sense of local pride and, indeed, sense of well-being. In Newport, as with other places across the UK, we face many challenges from changes in retail shopping habits to online. Recently, Debenhams has closed. But there's much good work going on: a major revamp of Newport market, a major new hotel and much else besides. That good work, First Minister, is a result of strong partnership working between Newport City Council, Welsh Government, businesses and others, and it's seen much new residential development, service provision and leisure provision in the city centre. But, of course, we face new challenges now with the pandemic and continuing retail change. So, First Minister, I wonder if you could offer reassurance today that that strong—very strong—partnership working between Welsh Government, Newport City Council and other partners will continue and sustain that change that we've already seen, and make sure that Newport city centre is fit to meet the challenges of the future.