A new “ministerial taskforce” has been formed by the Welsh Government with the aim of tackling poverty and deprivation in the South Wales Valleys.
Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language Alun Davies, who is also the Assembly Member for Blaenau Gwent, will chair the new group.
Announcing the move, he said: “We want a new approach to investing in the future of our valleys, which will engage and empower local communities and restore a sense of hope and aspiration.
“The taskforce will build on this foundation, working with people living in the valleys; local businesses; local government; the third sector and civic organisations to promote the valleys as a region for investment and a place to live.”
Labour AMs Hefin David and Dawn Bowden have both welcomed the new group.
Dr David, Caerphilly AM, said: “The taskforce will work if it listens to critical friends in our valleys communities and takes evidence from a range of political parties.
“This is an opportunity to make change happen and it is my job to make sure that the voices of the people of the Caerphilly constituency are heard.”
Mrs Bowden added: “My constituency of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney is rich in its industrial and trade union heritage and I welcome that this is recognised by the Minister as an asset to be nourished and defended, alongside the commitment to support new industries and foster sustainable regeneration of the area.”
Tony Graham, a Trussell Trust Foodbank Network Manager for Wales, who lives in Caerphilly, welcomed the new group.
He said: “For many years we have been seeing the effects of economic decline and the devastation this causes to our communities. Our food banks and ‘more than food’ programmes have been helping to mitigate some of the effects of poverty.
“Therefore the fact that the Welsh Government is taking this issue seriously and addressing some of the problems is to be welcomed.”
However, The Welsh Conservatives have questioned whether the new taskforce would be effective.
South Wales East AM Mohammad Ashgar said: “Any initiative which aims to deal with the longstanding issues contributing to poverty in the Valleys is to be welcomed.
“But after so many years of Labour Governance, the South Wales Valleys remain among the poorest areas of Europe so I am sceptical as to whether this new initiative will be a panacea.
“If he is serious about breaking this enduring cycle of deprivation then the Cabinet Minister must embrace a targeted approach to the project’s delivery and cede chairmanship to an independent member of the business community.
“Without these steps I fear that in five years’ time, the taskforce will amount to no more than good intentions and hot air.”