10. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's support for the National Botanic Garden? OAQ(5)0218(FM)

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure is currently considering the findings of his task and finish group on this matter. He will meet the chair and chief executive officer of the garden towards the end of this week to discuss those findings.

The garden has submitted a bid to the Heritage Lottery fund to create a regency garden on the site. It appears that that bid has been successful and has attracted the possibility of private contributions on top of that, but this, according to the fund, is conditional on confirmation from the Welsh Government of Government support for the garden. As we are talking about an investment of millions of pounds possibly in Carmarthenshire, can we expect that that confirmation will be provided by Government?

The garden will receive £581,000 in revenue funding this year and £90,000 in capital funding. Having said that, it is important that the garden continues to consider methods of raising funds in a commercial way. This has been a problem since its inception because the garden hasn’t been able to raise sufficient income on the actions that they take there and the activities that are available. But, we wish to collaborate with the garden to ensure that there is a sustainable future for the garden, and to consider every possible means of funding the garden for the future.

I thank the First Minister.