2. What discussions has the Minister had with Cardiff capital region regarding its purchase of Aberthaw power station? OQ57832

Yes. I have discussed the recent purchase of Aberthaw with a number of members of the Cardiff capital region board. My officials continue to maintain a dialogue with the capital region on this and other matters as we look to exploit the potential for renewable energy in particular.

Thank you, Minister, for that answer. Obviously, this wasn't part of the original business plan, this purchase of Aberthaw power station, and the plans that have come forward are dynamic, in fairness, with the potential of 5,000 jobs to be created over the medium to long term. In your discussions, have you been assessing how much demand might be placed on Welsh Government resources—additional demand on Welsh Government resources—to allow the plans to come to fruition that would see the creation of these 5,000 jobs and the potential to develop green energy projects there? Because there's a lot of remediation work to go on on the site, but there'll be additional resource issues, I would suggest, about bringing new investment as well.

So, this is part of where I think, actually—. There are areas where there's disagreement between the Welsh and the UK Governments, and, actually, the city deals and the regional deals that are taking place are an example of where we can work together. Of course, there's a wider investment fund, where the UK Government provided funds, as indeed have local authorities. The conversations my officials are having are exactly on the points that you raise—what's the potential, how close are we from potential, and the larger and the longer term investment opportunities being realised as to what we do now, and will there be a call on Welsh Government resources, and, if so, in what space. So, there isn't a finalised answer to the point you make, but that's exactly why conversations are taking place. And we're in a good place, with positive relationships with each of our economic regions—the four regions that are taking part, with their regional economic frameworks. And I'm hoping that we can make not just outline promises of what might be, but come with rather more practical measures to realise the significant and positive jobs impact this could have.