4. Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Shared Prosperity Fund and Levelling-up Fund

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:25 pm on 28 September 2021.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 4:25, 28 September 2021

I think there are significant flaws in the way that the current process has worked, and it's certainly not a process that this Government supports at all. And I recognise what the Member says about where Gwynedd is, and also I see a Member representing the county of Bridgend who will also know about the exclusion of areas of Wales that are objectively less well-off than parts of England that have been put into priority areas. Now, that just isn't levelling up. On any analysis, you can't say that is a levelling-up approach.

And for me the challenge is whether we'll get some unity in this place, not just to support the Government but to support the country and to recognise that, actually, this is about Wales and whether we're going to be treated fairly and properly. And I would say to Conservative Members, there is something here about the mandate you have in this place from people and whether you're prepared to stand up for Wales on something where, transparently, the current approach does not work for Wales, or whether you'll go in to bat for Ministers in Whitehall. And I would ask you to think again about the approach you take and to take a constructive approach with us to try to generate the best possible deal for Wales rather than the significant funding cut we are already receiving within this year.