Now, as we look towards economic recovery, we now have to consider how we make our services, including the support we provide through Business Wales, sharper and more tailored to the needs of firms and companies the length and breadth of Wales. And we certainly need to ensure that our businesses are prepared and supported as we continue the journey of having left the European Union and emerge from the COVID pandemic. There is a particular need, including for small and medium-sized businesses, to look at businesses that import and export and how we support them with the very real challenges in the friction in trade that has now been introduced. 

Our relationship with the business community through the pandemic has been vital, together with trade unions, and the provision of a strong social partnership. And I'm proud of the fact that we will build on that, moving forward, within this term. And like my predecessor before me, I do value the opportunity to regularly engage with our social partners, and we do listen to the concerns and share early Welsh Government thinking. We do hear from time to time that people aren't listened to or are ignored, and yet we have regular contact and engagement with representative groups within those sectors. But, of course, that means that we can't talk to every single individual business. But, whenever I talk to business organisations, they themselves say that relationships with the Government and with broader partners have never been as good, because of the way the pandemic has forced us together. Now that, coupled with the proactive fair work agenda of this Government, I think demonstrates how far ahead of the pack we are in our partnership thinking. 

Now, much of this debate has obviously focused on tourism and hospitality businesses and the role they play in our current economic picture and the future. And we don't underestimate how challenging the pandemic has been for this sector and how it continues to be a real challenge, even now. That's why over £54 million in support to date has been provided to help firms survive. It's also why, with the help of the sector, the Welsh Government, with Visit Wales, has developed a tourism and hospitality recovery plan. 

Now, I recognise that many people, as has been said today, are looking forward to a holiday after the past year and—bearing in mind what Jenny Rathbone has said—that many people can't afford to physically go away. With the continuing uncertainties that have been talked about with foreign travel, we have said and made it clear that this is the year to take a holiday at home and to enjoy what Wales has to offer—in the coast, the country and in our towns and cities too. 

Now, we do recognise and we've often talked about the caution that's still needed with the Delta variant despite our successful vaccination programme, but we have now moved away from what we were talking about previously, about 'Visit Wales. Later'; we now have a proactive approach in wanting people to come on holiday in Wales, but to do so safely. That's why we've asked people to take part in the Addo campaign, to be responsible tourists in any and every part of Wales that they visit. And I would encourage again people to support local businesses who have been hit hard by the pandemic and to think about the choices that each of us make. 

Now, again, we heard from lots of people in this debate about all that Wales has to offer, and I welcome what Hefin David had to say in trying to rival Huw Irranca's previous effort to mention lots of different actors within his constituency and across the wider Caerphilly county borough. And I also recognise the fact that many attractions are open within towns and cities as well. And Jenny Rathbone gave examples of some of those within the capital. I also recognise the challenge in seeing people outside the immediate vicinity of where they live. It's something I recognise as a constituency Member. When I go to east Cardiff, I meet many families who don't come into the centre of Cardiff or, indeed, into Cardiff Bay and so don't take up what we have on offer locally. 

I have, though, had the pleasure in this job of visiting a range of attractions, including Zip World—you may have seen the pictures—but also in the holiday that I've taken already this year on the Llŷn peninsula and last year when I went to Criccieth as well. Now, it really does show that there are visitor attractions that are open and they're safe—responsible owners, but also we need to be responsible in the way that we use them. 

Now, I want to focus on that reconstruction mission, and that's why we're developing that recovery plan to take forward in 'Let's Shape the Future', which was published in March. Many of the interventions covered in the plan are already being delivered, but of course I'm aware that there's been real change even since that time. But we're very clear, as the motion sets out, there are three Ss in this: seasonality—the year-round offer—to increase the spend of people who come to Wales, but also the spread of what's on offer as well. And that plan is being reviewed to ensure it continues to be aligned with the new programme for government. 

And that will include taking forward the programme for government proposals and the manifesto commitments for a tourism levy to be explored. There will be a consultation on it to understand how it could be used flexibly to support investment by local authorities in their local tourist infrastructure.

I should say, in finishing, that I'm very grateful for the invaluable contributions of our key stakeholders in the wider sector in helping to shape this important recovery plan moving forward, and I look forward to continuing to work with them. Our ambition remains to create an economy that works for everyone, grounded in our values of progressive change, to move forward in a spirit of co-operation and our shared interest.