I think there are two broad questions there. On innovation funds, I am keen, as I’ve said, to see much greater outputs in terms of research funding being awarded, and then outcomes in terms of what those funds will allow us to do. We have really good examples of applied research and the difference it can make. The knowledge transfer partnerships we have are a really good example on a small level, and I’m sure you’ll have seen that in your own constituency, and in your previous life as a leader of a local authority—the difference that can make to the productivity and profitability of a business. Our challenge is, with the shift in funding, how we take more out of UK Research and Innovation funds. That requires a shift here in Wales, not just within the Government and what the strategy will set out, but actually all of our various different partners. Because the Government can’t write bids for HE or for businesses that want to get those funds. What we need to do is not just copy what other regions have been successful in, but think about the distinct offer we have and where we could and should see investment funds being made here in the future of research and innovation.

The second part we require a shift in is in the minds of decisions makers. It’s a point that I’ve made regularly. I’m not trying to land a party political shot here, but George Freeman, the previous science Minister—I genuinely don’t know who the current science Minister is; up until a couple of weeks ago there wasn’t one—was someone who had come from the sector into politics, and he was very keen to see innovation take place right across the UK. He understood that there are areas of opportunity in Wales where he would want to see funds go to that. If we had a similarly committed science Minister who understood the landscape, I think there’d be a place for a conversation that was both an intelligent one and would lead to some different choices being made as well. Like I say, there is a genuine opportunity to do something of value both to Wales and across the UK.

On your point about the metro and modal shift, I regularly talk to cabinets from the various different regions, and you’ll know a bit about this, given that you were on the capital region cabinet at one point in time. I’ve met them recently. I’ve met with people around the Swansea bay deal as well and their regional cabinet. I’ve met the north Wales group as well, and I expect to see them again soon. I look forward to seeing more work done on the mid Wales deal, which is in a different place because they’ve actually reached their agreement later than the other three regions of Wales. But I’ll continue to keep in touch with them as partners—not as someone to tell them what they must do, but as partners in what we’re looking to do, the role they have in regional economic development and the role we have alongside them, and choices that can only be made at a national level as well.