1. What is the Welsh Government doing to bring more major events to Wales? OAQ53278

Thank you, Llywydd, and thank you, Mandy.

We're committed to building on Wales’s recent success in hosting major international events. To that end, we're working closely with partners in Wales, the UK and internationally to identify and pursue new opportunities for attracting major sporting and cultural events to all parts of Wales.  

Thank you for that answer. In recent years, Cardiff has been a fantastic advert for Wales around the world by hosting major events. The events are a perfect opportunity to showcase everything Wales has to offer and boost tourism during the event. How is this Welsh Government planning on replicating the success of Cardiff in other parts of Wales, including in my own region? 

Well, thank you. I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that in north Wales we have spent about £6 million on major events since about 2008. Of course, it's absolutely right that, very often, these international events will be focused on a capital city; sometimes that is a requirement by some of these organisations. But, if you look at what we're doing—for example, FOCUS Wales is an urban music festival in Wrexham, which is highly successful; Festival No. 6—you'll have heard about that—in Portmeirion, which is very successful. Unfortunately, that's not happening this year, but the Good Life Experience is another one in north Wales and, of course, the Llangollen international festival, the Tour of Britain, the biggest UK professional road cycling event, and, of course, the Wales Rally GB. So, we're already doing quite a lot in north Wales. 

Mandy Jones rightly observes that the Welsh capital has a very good record in attracting major events, particularly in the sporting field. One of the items of perhaps what may be described as constructive feedback that we sometimes get from organising bodies and visitors, though, is it would be better if people coming in by road weren't held up in jams, often for hours, through the Brynglas tunnels. Does the Minister therefore believe that this should be resolved by delivering on the promise in the Welsh manifesto to deliver a relief road for the M4?  

Well, thank you. Of course, I think our priority would be, where possible, to encourage people to come by public transport, and how much easier will that be now that we have a bit more control over the rail network? So, I do hope that there's that co-ordination between the Welsh Government and the major events team in making sure that, when Cardiff is hosting these events, that, actually, they will be using public transport wherever possible. But, of course, there is an issue that we also need to address in relation to those hold-ups, which are of no benefit to anybody.  

There is one major event in the pipeline for us on Ynys Môn—the opportunity to stage the Island Games in 2025. The executive committee of the Island Games internationally has been very supportive of our plans and I’m very grateful to them for that, and we will be submitting our final bid in a matter of weeks, so this is a crucial time. We’re extremely grateful for the support that’s been shown from the local authority and by the major events team within the Welsh Government under previous Ministers and we look forward to working in partnership with you over ensuing years, up until 2025.

Do you, as a new Minister in this portfolio, agree with me that this is a priceless opportunity for Anglesey, which will be an economic boost, which will be good for health, fitness and sports and leave a legacy for many years? Would you agree that it is an event that the Welsh Government should be very proud to support?

Thank you, and may I thank the Member for his investment in these games? I think that this is a huge opportunity for Ynys Môn, which has witnessed some issues over the past few weeks, and it's good to see a positive on the horizon as regards the Island Games. We are supportive of the games in principle. What I would like to see now is my team develop a valid business case with local government, and we’re extremely aware that this has to be ready by 8 March. So, the idea of pace and moving quickly is one that we are taking seriously and my officials will collaborate with the officers in local government to see how far we can take this, but I’m very hopeful that we can support this.