Welsh Government today set out its plans for a "stronger, greener and fairer Wales" in their five year Programme for Government - but opposition parties criticised the 'thin in detail' proposals.
It outlines how it will tackle the big challenges in Wales - from rebuilding the economy from the impact of the pandemic to tackling climate change.
This includes 125,000 all-age apprenticeships, investment in digital infrastructure, and backing tidal energy.
Ministers will press on with consulting on allowing local authorities to impose a tourism levy, a move vehemently opposed in the sector, while they have ruled out increasing income tax while the economy recovers from Covid.
There are commitments for a Community Bank for Wales and potentially local rates of Land Transaction Tax to help in the efforts to protect communities from being swamped by second homes.
They also propose a Backing Local Firms Fund to support small local businesses.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "We will build a fairer, greener, stronger and ever more successful Wales that we all want for ourselves and for each other.
"But I am determined that as we move Wales forward, no one will be left behind and no one will be held back."
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But Plaid Cymru Deputy Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said: "There’s no economic strategy to support and help small and medium Welsh businesses grow or any detail on how they will deliver high-skilled, well-paid jobs in all parts of Wales.
"This program, thin in detail and absent of targets, almost certainly does not provide the new start that Wales so desperately needs and is not the plan needed to take Wales forward to recovery and beyond."
Welsh Conservatives said: "Labour’s tourism tax is sadly back on the agenda.
"The tax would cripple Welsh businesses and cost jobs."
Welsh Conservative Senedd leader, Andrew RT Davies said: “Families, workers and businesses across Wales need support, not more taxes.
“Tourism is a major employer in Wales, creating hundreds of thousands of much-needed jobs, and a tax on holiday-makers would damage local economies and cost livelihoods.
“Instead of economic recovery, Labour seem intent on clobbering Wales with a menu of tax rises at a time when they should be doing everything they can to keep money in people’s pockets."
Key commitments on the economy, green economy, and tax
The Economy
- Deliver the Young Persons Guarantee, giving everyone under 25 the offer of work education, training, or self-employment.
- Create 125,000 all-age apprenticeships.
- Use the new network of Disabled People’s Employment Champions to help close the gap between disabled people and the rest of the working population.
- Support the creation of a Community Bank for Wales.
- Develop a Tidal Lagoon Challenge and support ideas that can make Wales a world centre of emerging tidal technologies.
- Enable town centres become more agile economically by helping businesses to work co-operatively, increase their digital offer and support local supply chains, including local delivery services.
- Seek a 30% target for working remotely.
Expand the Development Bank of Wales’ patient capital funds.
Increase the use of equity stakes in business support.
Build on the Foundational Economy and develop a Backing Local Firms Fund to support local businesses.
Provide greater support for worker buyouts and seek to double the number of employee-owned businesses.
Pay care workers the real living wage.
Taxation
- Consult on legislation permitting local authorities to raise a tourism levy.
Not take more in Welsh rates of income tax from Welsh families for at least as long as the economic impact of coronavirus lasts.
Keep the 1% increase in Land Transaction Tax charged on second home purchases.
Explore and develop effective tax, planning and housing measures – which could include local rates of Land Transaction Tax – to ensure the interests of local people are protected.
Green economy and transport
- Launch a new 10-year Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan for a zero-carbon economy.
Work towards a new target of 45% of journeys by sustainable modes by 2040, setting more stretching goals where possible.
Create a National Forest to extend from the North of Wales to the South.
Support 80 re-use and repair hubs in town centres.
Upgrade digital and communications infrastructure.
Tourism, Arts and culture
- Invest in theatres and museums, including committing to Theatr Clwyd, establishing the Football Museum and the National Contemporary Art Gallery.
Designate a new National Park to cover the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley.
Support the application to identify the slate landscape of North West Wales as a World Heritage Site.
Develop plans for a Museum of North Wales.
Housing
- Build 20,000 new low carbon social homes for rent.
Create a Welsh language Communities Housing Plan.
Decarbonise more homes through retrofit, delivering quality jobs, training and innovation using local supply chains.