I am grateful to John Griffiths for bringing this debate forward this afternoon. I love Newport. It is the place I chose to make my home more than 45 years ago, but like many other towns and cities, Newport has suffered due to changes in shopping habits. The latest Local Data Company report ranks Newport as one of the worst-performing town centres for retail and leisure vacancies, with a rate of over 25 per cent. It is good to see, therefore, the work that is going on to regenerate the city. We have already seen the success of the Friars Walk project. The company behind Friars Walk, Queensberry Real Estate has plans to create a public square to regenerate the southern part of Commercial Street—this is very good news. But we must attract more visitors to Newport.

Deputy Presiding Officer, over five years ago, in this Chamber, I raised the point for a convention centre in Wales. I’m glad that Sir Terry Matthews has understood our belief and, after five years, something is moving on. I’m very excited about the plan for an international convention centre that John has just mentioned. It is a £21 billion industry for the United Kingdom, and I’m sure we’ll be having a big share out of it. We have already seen the benefit of holding the Ryder Cup and the NATO summit in the Celtic Manor, and an international convention centre can build on that success and bring at least £17 million a year to that area in Newport. I’m sure everyone will join with me in welcoming the development and recognising the huge contribution it will make to ensure that Newport remains a city on the rise and one of the best in Wales.