3. Statement by the Minister for Economy: Progressing the Economic Resilience and Reconstruction Mission

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:12 pm on 22 March 2022.

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Photo of Alun Davies Alun Davies Labour 3:12, 22 March 2022

I'm grateful, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm grateful to the Minister as well for his statement and I've been enjoying the discussion that's taking place here, but I find that the discussion is all about what Government is doing, and nobody has asked, 'Why is Government doing this?' I wonder whether Government has asked that question itself, because I've looked throughout the statements you've made through the programme for government, and I can't see any statement of intent. What is the point or purpose of policy, for example?

It's surprising that there is no mention of poverty in your policy at the moment. Now, if the reduction of poverty were a driver of policy, then you would take different decisions than if, for example—. Simply an emphasis on growth or GDP would drive very different decisions again. And unless we understand what the purpose of policy is, it's very difficult for us to hold you to account, Minister, and, at the same time, I see no objectives or targets of policy. So, you know, we've seen and there has been agreement across the Chamber that we want to see a fairer Wales, a greener Wales and the rest of it, but there is no idea anywhere about what that actually means in practice. What is the objective that you're seeking to achieve? How will you know if you've achieved a fairer Wales? How will we hold you to account for doing that? There is no timetable. There are no deadlines. There are no targets in the policy. And therefore, I find myself, both as a member of the Welsh Labour Party and as a Member of this place, at a bit of a loss as to how, over the four years, we can hold you to account for what you're saying today, what you said in October, what was published by the Government in December, and how, by the end of this five-year period, we will know, or you will know, whether you've achieved any of these ambitions or not.