Thank you for your response, Cabinet Secretary. Last week, I met with representatives from Merthyr county borough council and Tydfil Training to talk about the support that they give to new businesses starting up in the Merthyr area, in particular their town centre enterprise development initiative, operating at the Merthyr Tydfil enterprise centre. One of their successes is the meanwhile use programme, which uses Vibrant and Viable Places funding.

Under that scheme, the enterprise centre encourages local landlords with vacant properties to let them out to new businesses. Potential start-up businesses are supported with payments of the rental on the property for an agreed period. That enables new enterprises to test out and amend their business models, based on working experience, and allows the landlord to realise the potential benefit of letting out vacant premises for business development. This has enabled seven new businesses to start up in vacant premises in the town centre.

Additionally, through the Effect programme, Merthyr Tydfil Enterprise Centre has given support to around 170 businesses in the area, created 51 jobs and safeguarded a further 151 jobs. Does the Cabinet Secretary agree with me that it is support like this that has contributed to the situation where Merthyr Tydfil has become the leading growth centre for new business in Wales? Can she give an assurance that funding under Vibrant and Viable Places, which has been so crucial to the success of these schemes, will remain a key component of the Welsh Government’s strategy to encourage new start-ups for small businesses?