Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government – in the Senedd at 1:41 pm on 28 September 2022.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Minister, I know things got a little passionate in the Chamber yesterday, so I do just want to bring the focus back onto how we can help the Welsh economy and Welsh businesses to move forward. In your statement yesterday, you suggested that you didn't support the idea of investment zones, although I appreciate that you'll be having more conversations with UK Government counterparts about these. I believe that these zones have the potential to drive forward business growth and high-skilled jobs in the areas that need them most. Rather than displacing economic activity, if designed in the right way, they could be an opportunity for us to spread investment and aspiration across the country. They also have the potential of complementing some of the other growth deals, city deals, potential free ports as well. Now, I know that our experience with enterprise zones has been mixed across Wales, but there is therefore scope for more ambitious plans to kick start developing. As Ben Francis, the policy chair of the Federation of Small Businesses Cymru, said,
'Wales cannot afford to be left behind in the mission of boosting regional competitiveness.'
Will you give assurances, Minister, that you do intend on taking an open-minded approach to the potential for investment zones to be established in Wales, and, if you are against investment zones, then what is the Welsh strategy? How do Ministers intend to use their levers to deliver the levels of economic growth that are needed to overcome the present challenges and to deliver a brighter future for our communities?