<p>Economic Development in the South Wales Valleys</p>

Part of 2. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure – in the Senedd at 1:59 pm on 19 July 2017.

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Photo of Dawn Bowden Dawn Bowden Labour 1:59, 19 July 2017

Cabinet Secretary, given the contribution that tourism is making to economic development across the country, I’m pleased to note the tremendous success that we’ve seen with the tourist investment support scheme across Wales. But I am concerned to note that, of the 205 schemes that have received offers of grant support under the tourism investment support scheme since April 2011, only four of those were located in the south Wales Valleys region. I’m very pleased to say that Rock UK in my constituency was one of them. Given the beautiful countryside that David Melding’s just been talking about, and the rich industrial and social heritage of the area, do you share my concern at this limited take-up in the Valleys, even given that TISS is a funder of last resort? Could I ask you if you’d consider undertaking some research into why businesses in this area are reluctant to take advantage of this specific source of funding and whether in fact there is scope for extending the scheme—for extending the scope of the scheme?