2. Will the First Minister make a statement on sport infrastructure in north Wales? OAQ(5)0693(FM)[W]

There are a number of first-class sport facilities in north Wales, which serve both elite and community sport. Sport Wales, our key delivery agent, are working with partners to ensure there is appropriate provision across Wales.

Thank you for that response. It was interesting to note that your Cabinet Secretary for the economy was very eager to see the development of a convention centre in Cardiff recently, although we have the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff City Stadium and the Motorpoint Arena. We have the Millennium Centre, we have a convention centre in Newport just down the road, and we have the Liberty Stadium in Swansea. There’s a similar development in the pipeline in Swansea, and good luck to them. I wouldn’t begrudge that at all, but there is a question about Government investment in proposals in north Wales, and north-east Wales particularly. The Racecourse, for example, is eager to develop itself as an international sports facility. It’s also eager to hold events—Olly Murs was there over the weekend with many thousands in attendance. But the feeling is that the investment isn’t forthcoming. So, the question, First Minister, to all intents and purposes, is: when will we see your Government being as proactive and eager to encourage that kind of development in somewhere like the Racecourse?

Well, you listed some places there that are not supported by the Government, namely the arena in Cardiff and the arena in Swansea. You raised the question about the Racecourse. We wish to ensure that that is developed, ultimately, but it’s very important that the Racecourse itself puts projects forward so that we can look at how we could provide support. We, of course, can’t establish our own projects without collaborating with those people already in the town and the vicinity. I know that the supporters trust from Wrexham Football Club have submitted a report to Welsh Government officials in order to progress this process, and we are very eager to collaborate with them.

One of the premier sports facilities in north Wales, of course, is Parc Eirias in my own constituency, the home of Rygbi Gogledd Cymru. And I’ve been very pleased, actually, to see the Welsh Government’s investment in that site over the years. But would you agree with me that, if we’re to have great sports facilities, we’ve also got to make sure that we’ve got the transport infrastructure to get people in and out of those facilities? One of the problems we have, of course, in north Wales, is that A55 corridor, and the congestion that occurs in it from time to time. And I wonder what action you’re going to take to make sure that those sporting venues have adequate transport infrastructure around them.

Well, how topical the question is from the Member, because I see that money has been made available for specific projects to the Northern Ireland Executive, and Wales has not been treated in the same way. We’d be more than delighted to take forward more measures on the A55 to reduce congestion if only we were in a position where we had DUP Members who could be bought by the Conservative Government.