National Assembly for Wales

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes with regret that:

a) the value of goods and services produced per head of population (GVA) in the West Wales and the Valleys sub-region is still bottom across the UK, at just 64% of the UK average - with the Gwent Valleys second only to Anglesey as the lowest in the UK;

b) the Bevan Foundation “Tough Times Ahead? What 2018 might hold for Wales” report states that although UK unemployment is forecast to remain at around 4.3% over the year, “performance is unlikely to be enough to boost those parts of Wales where unemployment stands well above the UK figure such as Merthyr Tydfil (7.3%) and Blaenau Gwent (6.7%)”;

c) the delivery of the Welsh Government’s new Working Wales employability programme has been delayed until April 2019.

The Bevan Foundation - Tough Times Ahead? What 2018 might hold for Wales

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to outline how it will talk, consult, design and deliver its ‘Our Valleys, Our Future: Delivery Plan’ with people who live and work in the south Wales valleys; the UK Government; and the business and third sectors, as the taskforce’s work progresses.

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes that true engagement with the “Be The Spark” movement, to create more profitable home-grown businesses that generate wealth and prosperity for the whole of Wales, will require Welsh Government collaboration with a culture that links innovation and entrepreneurship together.

Add as new points at end of motion:

Recognises the need for strategic investment in all parts of the South Wales Valleys, including the western Valleys.

Believes the Delivery Plan will only be fully achieved with a sufficient level of funding.

Believes an overarching delivery body will be required to monitor, drive forward and implement the Delivery Plan.