2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:36 pm on 15 March 2022.

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Photo of Andrew RT Davies Andrew RT Davies Conservative 2:36, 15 March 2022

Leader of the house, is it possible to have a statement from the economy Minister in relation to the Cardiff capital region? We all hope that the Cardiff capital region succeeds in its ambition to increase gross value added and increase the number of quality jobs within its catchment area. Recently, they announced the purchase of the old Aberthaw coal-fired power station site, with a considerable investment on restoration works—some £36 million going in for that restoration work—and the ambition to turn it into an exemplar of green energy, sentiments that we all support. But there's a genuine deficit, I would suggest, in the accountability and the scrutiny of the decisions and actions that are taken. And I would be interested to understand, as the Welsh Government is one of the partner organisations, what is the expectation of the Welsh Government, in engagement with local stakeholders, on this particular issue? I'm very grateful that the capital region did engage with local councillors, and I declare an interest as a councillor, for the Roose ward, in the Vale of Glamorgan Council. [Interruption.] I'm sorry that it upset the Minister, but I have to put it on the record now.