
Questioning the First Minister this week over the Welsh Government's policy to increase economic prosperity in North Wales, Assembly Member for the region, Mark Isherwood, challenged him over his Government’s commitment to the North Wales Growth Deal.
Mr Isherwood is concerned that while the UK Government have shown their commitment to the Growth Deal by announcing funding of £120 million, Labour Welsh Government have yet to show their commitment.
Speaking in the Assembly Chamber yesterday, Mr Isherwood said:
“In March 2016, the UK Government announced that it was opening the door to a Growth Deal for North Wales, and called on the Welsh Government to devolve powers down and invest in the region as part of the deal. The bid was submitted to both Governments last December, including calls for the delegation of powers by Welsh Government to North Wales, so that it could operate in an executive capacity in certain areas.
“Following the UK Government's announcement of £120 million for the Growth Deal, how do you respond to the statements made from the stage at the North Wales Growth Bid Conference on 1 November, organised by the Economic Ambition Board, 'We've heard of the UK Government commitment but worry about the commitment from the Welsh Government in a smoke and mirrors situation.' So, where is the money, when will it be announced by the Welsh Government, and will this be accepting the bid or instead designing a system, as appears to be the case, where Welsh Government still has those levers of power, and the delegated calls are not necessarily going their way?”
Standing in for the First Minister, Leader of the House Julie James AM insisted that “Negotiations between North Wales partners and the Welsh and UK Governments are advancing well on the North Wales Growth Bid.
She said: “Officials from both Governments and North Wales partners attended a workshop last week to discuss and agree a package of proposals and the next steps to enable delivery of the deal. The Cabinet Secretary is meeting with partners on Friday of this week, I believe, and that will all form an integral component of the overall vision for North Wales. So, from our point of view, other than that the UK Government hasn't come up with the entire package of money that we were expecting, the deal is progressing well.”
Mr Isherwood added: “I will be attending Friday’s meeting of the Assembly Cross Party Group for North Wales in Ruthin. We need clarity from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, Ken Skates. How, for instance, will the three regional business plans currently being developed by Mr. Skates’ Welsh Government Department impact on the North Wales Economic Ambition Board’s statement that “New powers and responsibilities are sought to facilitate growth in key policy areas such as transport and employment. Our approach advocates regionalism and devolution” (October 2018 ‘A Growth Vision for North Wales Proposition Document’),”
ENDS