1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh Government funding for festivals and events in Wales? OAQ52267

Yes. The Welsh Government supports a wide range of events and festivals across Wales. In 2018, we have confirmed funding for 24 sporting and cultural events, including major international sporting events such as the Volvo Ocean Race, and home-grown cultural events such as the Machynlleth Comedy Festival and the Steelhouse Festival.     

Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary, and outlining what is clearly an impressive record of investment by Welsh Government. Many of these local festivals, of course, provide an opportunity to showcase our heritage and our history. I'm sure that you would want to join me in congratulating the team behind the recent Merthyr Rising festival. Over five years, they've steadily developed a growing success for the town around the festival, which builds on its radical history. But if we're to use our heritage alongside these festivals to develop local economies, how can we ensure that we keep open to the public historic structures like the Ynysfach engine house, which was so integral to the history of the Merthyr rising but which has been mothballed to the public since the beginning of the year? 

Can I thank the Member for raising this important question? I also applaud the organisers of the Merthyr Rising festival. It's absolutely vital that we use major events and smaller musical, cultural and sporting events to showcase and celebrate our history, our heritage and our culture, and the Merthyr Rising festival did just that. I'm pleased to say that, in terms of going forward supporting other community-based sporting and cultural events, we are also funding the Merthyr Tydfil challenge, which is receiving funding from Welsh Government under the regional tourism engagement fund, and that is specifically targeted at improving opportunities for activities in sports-related events in the area. 

In terms of ensuring that we maximise the opportunity that the visitor economy presents, it's absolutely crucial that we look at how we can maintain sustainable business models for all heritage and cultural assets, including those that have been identified by the Member. I'm keen to make sure that, along with my colleague, we look at the sustainability of historic and cultural assets across the country. We've invested very heavily in recent years in our museums, in our libraries, in the Cadw estate, and I'm keen to make sure that, as we move forward, we utilise our precious capital resource to maintain and enhance the visitor experience at those facilities that attract people to communities such as those that are served by the Member for Merthyr. 

Good afternoon, Minister. Festivals in Wales are a great opportunity for attracting tourists and boosting local economies. For example, Abergavenny Food Festival has grown to be one of the largest food festivals in the United Kingdom, attracting more than 30,000 visitors to Abergavenny and generating an estimated £4 million for this local economy. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with Cabinet colleagues to support food festivals, such as Abergavenny, to increase tourism and the economy across Wales, please? 

Well, can I thank the Member for his question? He makes a very important point about the value of the food and drinks sector to Wales and, in particular, in attracting visitors to Wales. The Abergavenny Food Festival is amongst many, many food festivals in Wales that are growing strong. We support a huge number of food and drink festivals now in Wales, because they don't just support in turn small and micro businesses in that sector, they also attract many visitors in to Wales. So, in addition to congratulating the organisers of the Abergavenny Food Festival, I'd also like to congratulate those organisers of other festivals where food and drink take centre stage, and also organisers of festivals where food and drink acts as added value. We should note that the Hay Festival has just taken place and was another huge success. I'd like to put on record my thanks to the organisers for that particular event. 

The Member will be aware, of course, that food and drink is now one of our priority foundation sectors, and, as we develop enabling plans for each of the foundation sectors, I'm absolutely certain that the role of festivals in showcasing our produce will become very important.