6. How does the Minister work with the Minister for Economy to ensure north Wales benefits from equal economic outcomes to the rest of Wales? OQ57909

I have regular scheduled meetings with the Minister for Economy to discuss a wide range of economic opportunities across a number of key sectors, including those within the north Wales growth deal.

Thank you, Minister, and I welcome the fact that you have those conversations with the Minister for Economy. I'm sure that you agree with me that it's really important that north Wales does receive its fair share compared to other parts of Wales. But, we do continue to see a divide between north and south Wales, which is sad to see. An example of that is GVA. We see, for example, that Ynys Môn has around half of the GVA per head of down here in Cardiff. We see a health board that unfortunately continues to lag behind, especially in really important areas such as A&E waiting times. We see underinvestment, in my view, in transport. An example of that is the north Wales metro, which is earmarked for £50 million, versus south Wales, which has £750 million earmarked down here. Many people I speak to in north Wales, Minister, do feel that there is a gap between what is invested in south Wales versus what is invested and the opportunities in north Wales. So, Minister, why do people in north Wales feel that there is that gap, and what is the Welsh Government going to do to change that? 

So, as a north Wales representative myself, I hear it too. I don't recognise some of the divides that I'm told that are there. However, perception is everything in politics, and certainly there is that perceived divide. But I think that you can prove many times that, indeed, it's not the case. Sometimes, I think it's a bit 'apples and pears'. You're not comparing like for like. What is important, if we go back to the first part of your question, is that north Wales gets its fair share—that all our constituencies in north Wales get their fair share. I think that that is really important. I think one area that we are going to be let down about is the shared prosperity fund. That funding should have come to us, for us to decide as a Government how it is shared across Wales. So, it is really important that we do get our fair share. As the Minister for north Wales, I am constantly ensuring that discussions are going on. I think that, in relation to energy, for instance—and I know that you are very well aware of the Conwy energy plans—that's an area where we absolutely can lead the way, and we will be having the divide the other way. 

Minister, you may have seen my article for the Welsh Fabians today about the future of the north Wales economy, and if you haven't, I'm sure that you will read it with interest in due course. But sadly, the article comes at a time when we once again have been let down by the UK Conservative Government. Minister, will you use your role as Minister for North Wales to speak to the UK Tory Ministers and remind them that north Wales does exist, and that when they miss us out for funding—like the shared prosperity fund, like the community renewal fund—it reinforces that message, doesn't it, Minister, that the Tories do not care about north Wales?

Yes, I absolutely agree with Jack Sargeant's analysis of the Tories and their view of north Wales. I haven't had the opportunity to read your article, but I certainly will do so. And I go back to what the First Minister was saying yesterday and the many questions he had around the shared prosperity fund—the UK Government has failed to meet its pledge to fully replace that EU funding, deducting existing EU receipts before allocating money through the SPF. I think it's really important that the UK Government, even at this very late stage, start to engage with us much more if they want us to play our part in helping them ensure that local authorities get their fair share, and I will certainly be very happy to do that.