Secretary of State pushes forward growth deal for North Wales
Alun Cairns is to hold a round table meeting in North Wales to learn how the region thinks it can benefit from a growth deal.
The new Secretary of State for Wales has used his first day in office to push forward the agenda for a growth deal in North Wales.
Alun Cairns is to gather council leaders, employers, higher education providers and business organisations next week to set out his vision for the Welsh economy - and learn how the region thinks it can benefit from a growth deal.
Mr Cairns said:
The first thing I did this morning was to arrange a visit to North Wales so I can go and talk to the communities about how they would like to see a growth deal develop.
We have the fastest growing economy in the developed world and Wales is growing faster than any part of the UK outside London. I want North Wales to come up with proposals to really make the most of that.
As Secretary of State, I am committed to ensuring all parts of Wales benefit from economic growth. Next week is an opportunity to both hear from and challenge local leaders, and to see how we can maximise the benefits of being part of a Northern Powerhouse region that stretches from Newcastle to North Wales.
The round table is scheduled to take place on Wednesday March 30 with a venue to be announced shortly.
The government announced that it would be ‘opening the door’ to a growth deal for North Wales at the Budget last week, and that it will be looking to the next Welsh Government to devolve powers down and invest in the region as part of any future deal.