6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's plans for the future of the north Wales economy? OQ56535

The Government is focused on ensuring north Wales has a stronger, greener and fairer future. We will continue our excellent working relationship with our partners across the region, anchoring the future of the economy in the north Wales growth deal. 

Thank you for that response, First Minister. One of the things that could seriously undermine the future of the north Wales economy are the proposals that your party has put forward in relation to taxation. You've already referred in your clean air Act White Paper to the prospect of a dedicated charging scheme for Wales's trunk roads. This, of course, would add cost significantly, not only for local residents but also for visitors to north Wales. And, as you will know, tourism is an extremely important player in the economy in the region. 

In addition to that, you've raised the prospect in the past of tourism taxes potentially being charged for people staying overnight in Wales. This is something that, of course, could also seriously undermine and damage the tourism industry and the wider economy in north Wales, because visitor spending, of course, would be down in shops as it's taken out of people's pockets. It would also, of course, make us less competitive with other parts of the UK that don't have such taxes. What assurances can you give to people in north Wales that you will not be introducing more taxes on roads and on tourism in the future, and that you will do everything that you can to support the economy to make it thrive, rather than undermine it?

Llywydd, I look forward to working with the Member's party on the clean air agenda. Yes, the White Paper of course includes ideas about how we can discourage use of transport forms that cause pollution to the air. That is just a very sensible additional possibility in the policy armoury. We see it being used in other parts of the United Kingdom, and there's no reason why we should define it out of the debate here in Wales. 

We will work with all those interests in north Wales, particularly through the north Wales growth deal—the £120 million that we will invest in it as a Welsh Government. I was very pleased myself to visit tourism venues in north Wales with the Minister for north Wales only a week ago. We were in Llandudno together; and I was in Llangollen with the local Member, Ken Skates. We will work with those partners to make sure that the plans that local people and local organisations are developing to create a successful future for that economy are taken forward in partnership.