2. What are the Minister’s spending priorities for Mid and West Wales for the next 12 months? OQ58269

The spending priorities for the next three years are set out within the final budget, published in March this year. This has resulted in a number of investments in mid and west Wales, for example, in health, education and transport, alongside our longer term commitment of £55 million to the mid Wales growth fund.

Diolch, Gweinidog. I wanted to ask you about the early progress with the mid Wales growth deal. I understand that some local authorities, including Powys, are concerned about the lack of revenue seed funding to kick start the capital projects identified as part of their programme that would give those communities and local government a real boost. The frustration is that projects are stalling because of that priority given to capital funding rather than revenue funding, and the question that has been put to me is how about greater flexibility around the use of the growth deal funding as revenue funding to kick start those projects. So, therefore, my question is whether there are any steps that could be taken to provide flexibility or to provide that seed funding to local authorities to kick start those projects. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

Thank you for the question. The mid Wales growth deal final deal agreement was, of course, signed by all parties in January of this year, and that does set out how the Welsh Government will work with the UK Government and the Growing Mid Wales board framework on how the deal would be delivered. And that does include those critical underpinning arrangements such as the governance, assurance, monitoring, evaluation and communications attached to this. And the focus now within the region should very much be on developing the shortlisted programme and project business cases, which are evolving as part of the portfolio business case. We anticipate the first draw-down of funding would be, as I say, in 2023-24. We do have officials meeting very regularly, though, with officers from Powys and Ceredigion councils on behalf of the Growing Mid Wales board, and I'll be sure that they do discuss the issues that you've described further. Of course, it's my colleague the economy Minister who leads on this, and I'll be sure, again, that he is aware of your concerns and your request today. 

Thank you for that answer, Minister. But, on the topic of spending priorities, I do wish to raise with you the preservation of Wales's historic buildings, of which west Wales has many. I recently had the pleasure of visiting Picton castle, a medieval building which was transformed into a stately home in the eighteenth century by the Philippses. The castle itself has a history that is entrenched in our culture, identity and historic nationhood, from being seized by Glyndŵr to housing American troops in the second world war. It is one of the only medieval properties in Britain to have been continually lived in. And whilst it was fit for royalty and has welcomed monarchs, roofs still need to be patched, bedrooms restored. So, how can the Picton Castle Trust work with the Welsh Government to maximise funding opportunities, ensuring that this historical site and important location in our nation's story is safeguarded for future generations? Diolch. 

I'd certainly encourage the Picton Castle Trust in the first instance to engage with the Deputy Minister for culture in order to explore whether there are opportunities for support. As a first step, I would encourage them to write to the Deputy Minister to seek further dialogue, potentially with officials, on the matter.