UK Government levelling up investment is bringing significant
benefits to Welsh communities with more to come in 2023, Welsh
Secretary David TC Davies has said.
Funding for levelling up has now reached £1.6 billion in Wales,
the equivalent of more than £520 for every person, with the total
set to rise with millions of pounds of further investment in
2023.
In a New Year message, Mr Davies said 2022 had been difficult for
many across the country with cost of living challenges following
the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
But the Welsh Secretary said that the UK Government would
continue to support millions of people across the UK with the
cost of living while working to deliver jobs, prosperity and
investment in Wales over the coming year.
Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said:
During 2022, the impact of the pandemic on our economy and
Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine which intentionally pushed
up energy prices, have resulted in huge financial challenges and
have meant that we needed to step in as a government – as we did
during the pandemic – to support millions of households and
businesses.
We are totally committed to helping people across Wales – we said
we would protect the most vulnerable, and we have done that by
announcing a package worth £26 billion in the next financial
year, directly helping hundreds of thousands of households across
Wales as we face the challenges ahead together.
But we will also continue our key mission to level up the UK.
Wales has so far benefitted more, proportionally, than other
areas of the UK from the new funds we have created and which have
seen money allocated to projects ranging from improvements to
road infrastructure in the Rhondda to money for Gwynedd locals to
help buy their community pub.
Every part of the Wales is covered by a growth deal and 2022 saw
many of the things the UK Government has invested in alongside
the Welsh Government and others come to fruition.
The regeneration of Swansea city centre is a fantastic example of
how the growth deals are delivering real results and I’m looking
forward to seeing more transformative projects across the country
this coming year. The Swansea Arena, part of the Swansea Bay City
Deal, opened in March 2022 and has already attracted 175,000
visitors to the venue and created 100 jobs.
The new £585m Shared Prosperity Fund will also drive further
investment in our communities. Altogether, UK Government
levelling up funding has now reached £520 per head in Wales and
with further rounds of these funds are due to be announced in
2023, communities across Wales will be transformed over the
coming years.
The Welsh Secretary also looked back at significant events in
Wales and the UK during 2022.
He said:
2022 was a sad and unforgettable year for our country as the UK
came together to mourn the passing of Her Late Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II, who provided so many years of service.
The new King has a well-established and strong relationship with
Wales as the longest-serving Prince of Wales and I know the links
between the Royal Family and the people of Wales will grow still
further with Price William succeeding him in that role.
It was fantastic to see the new King in Wales so early in his
reign to confer city status on Wrexham and mark this important
landmark for North Wales.
Mr Davies added:
We have much to be optimistic about and 2022 saw a huge amount
delivered in Wales. Welsh lamb is now being exported to the USA
after we secured the lifting of the 20-year-old ban on exports
and Wales now has a dedicated Veteran’s Commissioner for the
first time who is working to improve the lives and champion the
interests of veterans in Wales.
Protecting and growing the Welsh language is hugely important and
S4C received a 9% increase in UK Government funding and a further
£7.5 million per annum to support its digital development into
the future. This will enable S4C to continue to reach more Welsh
language speakers, including younger audiences.
And, of course, 2022 was the year we saw Wales finally play at a
football World Cup. It was a privilege to travel to Qatar to
support the team and while I was there I met Qatari ministers and
others to discuss subjects like energy infrastructure, renewed
flights from Cardiff, increasing exports and other areas which
are so important to the Welsh economy.
Looking ahead to 2023, we will announce a new Freeport in Wales
in the New Year. The aim of the Freeport programme is to create
jobs in new and exciting industries and I am very much looking
forward to it getting up and running in Wales. I also hope to see
progress on securing investment in nuclear power in Wales over
the coming year.
I am certain that we have a bright year ahead in Wales and I look
forward once again to travelling to every part of the country to
see the UK Government investment in our communities and the
delivery of our ambitious plans.
