Speech to Senedd RE Wales Infrastructure Plan

My constituency of Swansea East has been a major beneficiary of Welsh Government capital expenditure.

Morriston Hospital is continuing to receive substantial capital funds to update and expand the hospital, not just for the benefit of my constituents but for the whole of Swansea and the whole of west Wales.

In education, we’ve seen the building of two new secondary schools in Swansea East—Morriston and Cefn Hengoed—based on the same sites as the old schools. Burlais school is to replace Manselton and Cwmbwrla schools is nearing completion. The Welsh-medium school Lôn Las, which my daughter attended, and which was a semi-derelict ex-junior comprehensive school, is now going to be replaced by a whole set of new buildings.

I’ve got three questions for the Minister. Will the Minister commit to continuing the financial support for twenty-first century schools? Secondly, does the Minister agree that capital expenditure is one of the best ways of stimulating the economy?

thirdly, as someone who supports the tidal lagoon—which puts me in agreement, I think, with every other Member representing the South West Wales region—how can the tidal lagoon itself access the EFSI funding that you mentioned?