8. What discussions has the Minister had with stakeholders regarding the night-time economy in South Wales West? OQ58169

I meet regularly with representatives of hospitality, tourism, events and the night-time economy through the visitor economy forum. The forum was established to discuss a range of issues relating to the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. I look forward to meeting them next week.

Thank you, Minister, for your answer. While I appreciate that matters related to crime are not devolved, one issue that's raised frequently with me is the issue of business crime in and around Swansea city centre. Swansea business improvement district have been working on a project to combat crime within the city to make the centre a more attractive and prosperous proposition to potential investors and entrepreneurs. Together, they've launched the Swansea Against Business Crime initiative, and it's clear from discussions with partners and businesses in the city that there are concerns around the lack of a strategy relating to business crime in the night-time economy.

The clear links between the statutory authorities and the vision that the SABC have is clearly accepted by those businesses. It's the intention to ensure that under the SABC, any signs of crime or anti-social behaviour in all its forms, as far as possible, are collated in a format that can be used to determine true issues that businesses in the city recognise. Given that this has a profound effect on the economy within the city, and the fact that these issues will not only be isolated in Swansea, what immediate steps can be taken to support our businesses, working with BIDs across Wales to alleviate some of those issues?  

And finally, will you commit to working with stakeholders, including police and crime commissioners and other Government Ministers, to give these businesses further support in their quest to tackle business crime within the area? 

I think the clue is in the words 'business crime'. Crime and the criminal justice system are not devolved to this place, at least not yet. So, it will require us to engage with UK agencies. We regularly work with police forces, because police forces recognise that in many of their responsibilities, they need to proactively engage with devolved agencies and the Welsh Government. We have good working relationships with Welsh police forces. If there's going to be an additional policy focus on this, then there will need to be engagement, of course, with UK Ministers who have responsibility in this area, but we will, of course, want to see businesses being successful and addressing issues that potentially affect them, whether they are reserved or devolved. I should say that I think that within the night-time economy in Swansea, the leadership and the profile that the council have given to the future development of Swansea is something that I think gives us cause for optimism for the future. But I will, of course, look seriously at the points that the Member has raised. 

I thank the Minister.