9. Will the Minister make a statement on efforts to support the heritage sector in Wales? OAQ(5)0048(EI)

Yes, the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016 has placed Wales at the forefront of the UK nations in the protection and management of the historic environment. We continue to work closely with a wide range of partners in building a heritage sector that has a sustainable future.

Our nation as a tourist destination is vital in promoting Wales to the world, and our heritage is our living history, something tangible from our past that our children can interact with. There are great historical assets in Caerphilly. We’ve got the largest concentric castle in Europe, a grade II listed ancient monument in Ruperra castle, which needs work, and Llancaiach Fawr, a Tudor manor house near Nelson that aims to attract 80,000 visitors by the year 2020. Preserving and restoring these iconic heritage sites will be crucial to boosting tourism and the local economy. My constituents are involved in local groups, organisations set up to save the historic environment, particularly Ruperra castle. How can they play an active role in strengthening the heritage sector in their communities?

Local groups are absolutely crucial in helping the historic environment remain a vibrant place that people visit, that people experience, that people can volunteer at and that people can acquire skills at. The voluntary group that has looked at Ruperra castle is particularly active, and I congratulate them on their work. In the Member’s constituency, we have the fastest growing visitor attraction in the Cadw estate—that’s Caerphilly castle—and increases in visitor figures have largely been driven by the Year of Adventure activities, including the Caerphilly Dragon, which I know many Members in this Chamber have visited.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary.