4. What are the Minister's spending priorities for Preseli Pembrokeshire for the next 12 months? OQ58431

My priorities are set out in our programme for government and our 2022-23 budget; preparations for the 2023-24 budget are currently under way. Despite the challenging fiscal context, we will ensure our spending priorities have the greatest possible impact for a stronger, fairer and greener Wales.

Thank you for that response, Minister. Now, in the foreword of the Welsh Government's infrastructure investment strategy, you said that

'It is essential that the role which infrastructure plays is maximised, and that we have the infrastructure in place to support the Wales we want to hand on to future generations.'

And I very much agree with that statement.

Now, one infrastructure project that I have been campaigning for for several years now is a footbridge on the A487 through lower town Fishguard, and yet little progress has been made, despite continued commitments from successive Welsh Government Ministers to look at the issue. Minister, it's vital that pedestrian safety is a priority for this Government, so can you tell us what discussions you've had with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change about these types of projects, and, given your comments in the infrastructure investment strategy, will you confirm that funding will be made available so that pedestrian safety schemes like this are able to go ahead in the future?

I'm grateful for the question and I'll certainly discuss the specific case that you raise with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, but pedestrian safety and Safe Routes in Communities schemes are clearly important to us, as are our active travel schemes, which, of course, support pedestrians and cyclists and other users as well. So, you'll have seen our investment in active travel in particular has increased very much over recent years, and it's something that we continue to be very much committed to. We are disappointed overall at the level of capital funding that we have available to us. It does fall in each of the three years of the spending review period. I was very sorry not to see additional capital funding announced at the mini budget last week; that would have been an opportunity, really, to inject some infrastructure investment into our communities. But it's something that we continue to call for. But I will discuss the particular case whilst we continue to make the case for additional capital funding.