7. What is the Welsh Government's strategy for sustaining swimming pools? OQ59327

Llywydd, funding for swimming pools and leisure centres is provided to local authorities through the local government settlement. Despite the challenging financial situation, we have agreed significant additional investment for local government for the next financial year, and that will enable local authorities to continue to deliver the services that their communities need.

We have half a million people actively using our swimming pools in Wales and so, they're a really important resource for ensuring that everybody's active as far as possible. But sustainability in the long term is only possible if they are using renewable energy to fire them up. I'd love to see Wales follow the example of Exmouth swimming pool, recycling heat generated from technology businesses like Deep Green. Now, the Chancellor announced £63 million for English swimming pools in last week's budget, can we expect a consequential to be invested in sustainable heating solutions in Welsh pools, or has the Treasury decided that there is no consequential for Wales, as Welsh people are free to use English pools instead?

Well, I thank the Member for that final point. It's often difficult to disentangle where money that comes to Wales through a budget is derived, because money arrives through one funding line and disappears through cuts in another line. In the end, Llywydd, as we know, the decisions about money that comes to Wales are made not in Whitehall, they're made here, where they should be made. And Members here will hear from the finance Minister how she intends to make use of the very small amounts of additional funding, both revenue and capital, that are available as a result of the spring budget.

The Member's general points, of course, are powerful ones, and we discussed last week here the Exmouth experience. When you learn a little bit more about what has been possible in that context, you do come to the conclusion that easy replication of it will be a challenge, because the Exmouth pool is able to use the heat source that it deploys—the data centre—because it is very close by to where that pool is to be found. Nevertheless, the general point that Jenny Rathbone makes is the right one—that, if we are to be able to go on keeping available swimming pools that serve many communities in Wales, and very successfully, then sustainable heating solutions have to be part of that future. 

Eleven days ago, I received a message from the voluntary board of Harlech and Ardudwy Leisure announcing with sadness that they would have to close the swimming pool at the end of this month. The announcement comes as a result of an appalling increase in their costs. The cost of the centre has increased from £4,000 per month to £12,000 per month, and this £12,000 includes the UK Government energy support scheme. Investment in solar panels and new machinery would be a great help in the longer term, but they're facing the crisis now. Fair play to Gwynedd Council, they have provided short-term support that will keep the wolf from the door, but they have to find capital as a matter of urgency to secure the viability of this important community asset. So, what support can you provide to Harlech and Ardudwy Leisure in the short term, and what support can the Government provide to ensure the viability of the centre in the longer term? 

Thank you very much to Mabon ap Gwynfor for that question. I've heard about the issues that they face in Harlech, and, of course, we are open to any discussions that local individuals might want to have through the local council, and also through Sport Wales. Initially, it is a local issue, and in the first instance, it's important that they have those conversations with the local authority. If there is something that we can do, then, of course, we are willing to look into any bid that local people want to make. 

Finally, question 8—Samuel Kurtz.