7. Will the Cabinet Secretary outline the Welsh Government's support for heritage and culture tourism in Wales? OAQ52278

Thank you very much. Since I took these responsibilities, I've sought every opportunity to increase and strengthen partnerships between various aspects of my responsibilities as part of Government, namely heritage and culture, as well as the arts, sport and tourism. We saw very clearly just last week how people travel within and outwith Wales to major festivals as a crucial part of our tourism.

Thank you for that response. As I have said previously in posing questions to you, this sector is very important. Recently, I went to the Resolven miners centre to see what they're trying to do to renew that centre. It will take quite a bit of work, not just funding but also actual physical work from local people. Without having emergency funding to try to renew it, it will potentially close because they need to submit bids that take a great deal of time in order to get the long-term funding in place. So, the appeal that I have for you on their behalf is that you look into the possibility of short-term funding in order to keep the place open until sufficient funding is available to sustain it within the community locally. Also, I have written to you to invite you to come and visit the local people—and I’m happy for that to be a cross-party event—so that you can see what’s happening in the area, and to generate a renewal of that centre.

Thank you very much. As you know, I am now very cross-party, so I am more than happy to visit Resolven, and I hope that we can make those arrangements quite swiftly. I have visited a number of projects that relate to monuments, and the relationship between that and our industrial history is very important to me. The industrial heritage of Wales celebrates our past and the historic arts of Wales, and I’m certain that supporting that kind of development would be useful. But the first thing that the local people need to do is to ensure that they have discussions with our officials, in Visit Wales and Cadw. I can promote that; I just need the details and addresses.

And finally, question 8—David Melding.