Image Source: Plaid Cymru
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National Development Agency
Is this devolved to Wales?
Devolved
The necessary powers are not reserved to the UK Parliament in Schedule 7A of the Government of Wales Act 2006.
Shared Powers
Insert a specific explanation of the powers situation for this issue here.
Not Devolved
The powers over this are reserved to the UK Parliament in Schedule 7A of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Specific Section/Number/Clause).
Establishing a National (Economic) Development Agency was one of Plaid Cymru’s main economic policies ahead of the 2026 Senedd election.
The new agency would be run at arm’s length from the Welsh Government.
In a statement to the Senedd on 2nd June 2026, the Economy Minister, Adam Price MS, said the new agency would be tasked with supporting Welsh businesses to grow (including accessing finance), attracting investment from abroad (“inward investment”), developing business-ready properties/site and supporting innovation.
The Welsh Development Agency (WDA), established in 1975, was for a time one of the most successful organisations of its kind in Europe at attracting inward investment.
A string of high-profile failures during the late 1990s, mismanagement of expenses, and increased competition from fast-growing economies in eastern Europe and Asia led to the impression that the WDA had outlived its usefulness.
The WDA was abolished in 2006, and its functions were absorbed into the Welsh Government as part of a “Bonfire of the Quangos”.
Since then, business organisations and academics have argued that Wales lost the agility the WDA provided in finding solutions to business problems, as well as key outside economic expertise and business relationships1. It’s also been argued that independent economic development policy was replaced by government bureaucracy2.
There are hopes that the new National Development Agency will help close the economic productivity gap with the rest of the UK. It may also help Wales claw back some foreign investment that might otherwise go elsewhere by boost Wales’ profile abroad.
The policy is still in development.
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Costs & Economic Impact
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Who has raised this at the Senedd?
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS
First Minister
Adam Price MS
Enterprise & Energy Minister
Elwyn Vaughan MS
Chair: Economy & Energy
Rebeca Phillips MS
Backbencher
Elyn Stephens MS
Backbencher
Anna Nicholl MS
Backbencher
Peredur Owen Griffiths MS
Senedd Commissioner
Sarah Cooper-Lesadd MS
Backbencher
Cai Parry-Jones MS
Shadow Finance Minister
Art Wright MS
Backbencher
Jason O'Connell MS
Shadow Economy Minister
Shav Taj MS
Backbencher
Huw Thomas MS
Backbencher
Mike Hedges MS
Backbencher
Andrew RT Davies MS
Senedd Commissioner
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS
First Minister
Adam Price MS
Enterprise & Energy Minister
Elwyn Vaughan MS
Chair: Economy & Energy
Rebeca Phillips MS
Backbencher
Elyn Stephens MS
Backbencher
Anna Nicholl MS
Backbencher
Peredur Owen Griffiths MS
Senedd Commissioner
Sarah Cooper-Lesadd MS
Backbencher
Art Wright MS
Backbencher
Jason O'Connell MS
Shadow Economy Minister
Cai Parry-Jones MS
Shadow Finance Minister
Shav Taj MS
Backbencher
Huw Thomas MS
Backbencher
Mike Hedges MS
Backbencher
Andrew RT Davies MS
Senedd Commissioner
What are the party positions on this?
- Supports
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
As a Plaid Cymru policy, the backbenchers are supportive on it. They are particularly keen to support the growth of Wales-based businesses.
- Supports
- Sceptical
- Neutral/No Opinion
Reform UK have expressed doubt over the need for a new government agency, but have hinted that they could be convinced of the case if the new agency cuts red tape and layers of government.
- Supports
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Labour are seemingly opposed to the new development agency. Some MSs have expressed a preference for devolving economic development powers to local councils – as has happened to a certain extent to regional mayors in England.
- Supports
- Sceptical
- Neutral/No Opinion
The Conservatives have hinted at a preference to make more use of existing economic development initiatives, such as regional growth deals.
- Supports
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Jane Dodds hasn’t said anything on this yet.
Who is responsible?
Adam Price MS
Enterprise & Energy Minister
What have ministers said?
What's being done about this?
Establishing a National Development Agency was one of Plaid Cymru’s flagship economic development policies ahead of the 2026 Senedd election.
The Chair of Associated British Ports, Jonathan Lewis, was appointed chair of the expert panel drafting early proposals for the agency in July 2026.
In terms of results, the Welsh Government believes the new agency will play a key part in its goal to halve the economic productivity gap with the rest of the UK by 20365.
A development agency was mentioned on the list of possible laws the Welsh Government are considering introducing this term (legislative programme) – but it might not necessarily need a new law.
There’s an expectation that a National Development Agency will be up and running before the end of the current Senedd term (April 2030).
What have the Senedd's Committees said?
Nothing has been discussed yet.
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Relevant Votes
Nothing to see yet.
Further Reading
- Sion Barry, Western Mail (26th May 2026). “New look WDA will be a key driver of our economic policy“
- Aled Blake, Wales Online (28th March 2013). “Is Wales hurt by WDA’s demise?“
- Plaid Cymru. “Making Wales Work“
- Joe Rossitter, Institute of Welsh Affairs (26th February 2026). “New economic governance: An answer, but what’s the question?“
- Welsh Government. “Unleashing the Welsh economy.“
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