1. What steps has the Welsh Government taken to attract major economic investment to Newport? OQ58016

8. What is the Welsh Government doing to support economic development in Newport? OQ58000

Thank you for the question. I understand, Llywydd, that you have given permission for questions 1 and 8 to be grouped.

The draft regional economic framework highlights how the Welsh Government and its partners will continue to attract major investment to the Newport area. In addition, my officials work closely with both Newport council and the capital region to provide the infrastructure and support to businesses in order to further develop the economy of Newport.

Thank you, Minister. The city of Newport has been crying out for inward investment now for far too long. Sadly, under years of Labour mismanagement, they have reigned over a period of stagnation for the area. Only now, with the shared prosperity fund, the community ownership fund, and others, are places like Newport getting a look in. Whether it be a free port or redevelopment of the Newport river barrage, there's a whole host of fresh ideas, being put forward recently by the Newport Conservatives, that are waiting to be developed and made into a reality to attract economic investment into Newport and create those well-paid jobs that the people in our city, the Member of Newport over there, are crying out for. And for years they've been crying out for it. [Interruption.] If the Member can sit there and say that the city of Newport has the investment it needs, that the city centre is thriving, that there are numerous jobs for everyone in the city, I'd be very welcome to hear it, because it's not the case. That would be lies. The city is crying out for inward investment, and any sort of investment. It's often a city left out. You concentrate on Cardiff, you concentrate on Swansea, but Newport is always going without. What, Minister, are you doing to ensure that the people of Newport are looked after and it gets the investment that it needs?

I have a very good and constructive relationship with the newly re-elected leader of the council of Newport, Jane Mudd, leading the Welsh Labour team to victory with the endorsement of the people of Newport. And, indeed, they rejected a range of the interesting and yet wholly unfunded and unachievable suggestions in the Welsh Conservative manifesto, including the barrage, of course, which was a proposal many years ago, and actually rejected by the then UK Conservative administration.

I do think that Welsh Conservatives really need to think long and hard before they celebrate the shared prosperity fund. It is a reduction in funding to Wales of more than £1 billion. It is staggering that you continue to come to this place and claim that it should be a cause of celebration. We have lost £1 billion in a straightforward breach of a manifesto pledge. And to demand that we make up the deliberate undermining of that fund and what that could do for the economy of not just Newport but across wider areas of Wales, I think, really does speak volumes about where the Tories are. In contrast, there is a level of ambition and renewal led by Newport council, in partnership with colleagues across the region, and, indeed, the Welsh Government.

When it comes to major investment, of course, it's public that Microsoft are investing in Newport. We have high hopes for further investment and progress with the semiconductor cluster, which is unique not just within the UK, but on a global level. I think that the prospects for Newport are good, and I look forward to working with elected Members in Newport, including, of course, Councillor Jane Mudd.

Question—. Jayne Bryant, I apologise. Question—. No, not a question. Jayne Bryant. Focus, Elin. Jayne Bryant.

Diolch, Llywydd. In Newport, we've just seen Europe's biggest indoor market regeneration project, led by Simon Baston of LoftCo, a grade II listed building that first opened in 1854, and which is, once again, thriving in its new lease of life. Alongside other city centre developments, such as the Chartist Tower's new Mercure hotel, which is due to open very shortly, the old Royal Mail sorting office, the market arcade, and a new-build leisure centre on the way, there's really a lot to look forward to. These are all exciting projects led by a Labour council—a Labour council that understands that a reliance on retail alone can no longer be the only way forward, and a Labour council that has just been unanimously re-elected. Newport is proud of our rich cultural, arts and sports scene, and events like the Ffoto gallery's exhibition on Saturday, with renowned photographer David Hurn, helped to bring people into our city centre. I can assure all Members that, as someone who was in the city centre, I could see that it was thriving. Minister, what is the Welsh Government doing to build on and support the current plans of reinvigorating Newport city centre, and how can we tap into the economic benefits through improving Newport's unique cultural and historical offer?

I've visited a range of the projects that Jayne Bryant has mentioned. Indeed, it was just a few weeks ago that I was with Councillor Mudd and Jayne Bryant in the indoor market, and it's a fantastic new offer—really full and more to come. I indeed look forward to the Member opening her own office as part of that development as well. I think that there are good reasons to be positive about the future for Newport, not just the music scene that we visited and we've supported through the pandemic to survive, but obviously, there is a really positive creative media scene around Newport as well. Of course, one of the stars of Sex Education is going to be the new Doctor Who, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing him become the new doctor.

But more about Newport. I think we have lots of plans. I'm thinking about the money that the Welsh Government is putting in around the transporter bridge and a new visitor centre, I'm thinking about the commitment and the partnership with the council on new hotel developments, and further work to further develop and reinvigorate the city centre. There's a challenge that the council recognises. One of the strengths that I think Newport has is its built environment and lots of the history around that, to give a unique feel to what Newport city centre will look like in the future. I look forward to working with the Member and Newport council to do just that.