GWENT AMs have given a warm welcome to the latest phase of the post-Corus regeneration package for South- East Wales.

The Argus exclusively revealed the announcement yesterday, which came later in the day's Assembly plenary session.

It allocated the remaining £17 million of the £69 million Assembly package to learning opportunities and business premises.

The bulk of the money - £14 million - is being split between the establishment of a Community Learning Network and investment to help the WDA speed up development of business premises. Tourism and ICT also received extra cash.

Plaid Cymru spokesman Phil Williams was the first on his feet to respond. He urged the first minister to draw up similar "excellent strategies" in all regions of Wales. The five counties collaboration has been hailed by the first minister and others as a model for other areas.

But Dr Williams warned that more money - £40 million, he estimated - was needed to fund the Ebbw Valley passenger railway.

Mr Morgan said he could not make spending commitments ahead of the forthcoming spending review.

Blaenau Gwent AM Peter Law said the announcement was "very reassuring", but also pressed for more money. He also urged the completion of the Ebbw Vale to Newport rail link, and for Abertillery to be included as well.

He said: "Despite this announcement, the prospects in Blaenau Gwent are still very dark. It will need an awful lot more resources over the years," he warned.

Torfaen AM Lynne Neagle called for support for the regeneration of Pontypool town centre and links between Blaenavon and the Heads of the Valleys Road. Mr Morgan promised to look at the schemes, but said that any funding would have to be found elsewhere.

William Graham called for highly skilled jobs, while Ron Davies, AM for Caerphilly, questioned whether the response was adequate. Liberal Dem-ocrat leader Mike German stressed the importance of building on the tourist potential of industrial heritage sites. Newport East AM John Griffiths questioned whether the budget had given any new information on the tax breaks available to investors in the proposed Urban Reg-eneration Company in Newport.

He was told that officials are still working through the budget announcement.