Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:07 pm on 7 March 2023.
Thank you. First Minister, your own personal commitment to the communities in the Heads of the Valleys has always shone through, both as First Minister and prior to that as well. You will remember the visit that you paid to Blaenau Gwent during the last election campaign, where we both stood on the bridge over the A465 dualling project, and where you spoke about your hopes for the future of that project and what prosperity it would help to bring to Blaenau Gwent.
I'm very proud of the investment that we're making in the A465. It's the biggest single investment that the Welsh Government has ever made in an economic development project—nearly £2 billion by the time it's complete. I well remember the work of our good friend, Carl Sargeant, in ensuring that that project went ahead.
First Minister, Blaenau Gwent has already seen the positive impact of this investment. The local authority has already seen an increase in the number of enquiries from businesses wanting to locate in Blaenau Gwent and wanting to develop their businesses in the borough. I'm very pleased that the economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, has agreed to come to Blaenau Gwent to talk about how we can ensure that we maximise the value of this investment. So, First Minister, will you ensure that the whole of the Government works together to ensure that this road to prosperity really is a road to prosperity, not just for Blaenau Gwent but for the whole of the Heads of the Valleys region?