Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:50 pm on 24 May 2022.

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Photo of Andrew RT Davies Andrew RT Davies Conservative 1:50, 24 May 2022

First Minister, the response that the economy Minister gave last week indicated that the Green Man was an exclusive tenant or buyer—it depended on the business plan that came through. Those were his words, and they're on the record. So, there was no other competitive tendering process, there was no other going to the market to offer other facilities to other operators in mid Wales—£4.25 million was made available to the Green Man Festival, in effect to secure them a permanent home. Now, I believe the festival is a successful festival, and I want to see it prosper. But when I get approached by other businesses who have come to look for support from the Welsh Government—financial support—and they have to rightly provide that information with business plans to secure that support, one now has to question: has the remit of the Welsh Government changed so that as long as you're deemed a trusted company or festival, you will secure that money? Because that's the impression you've given here today, that if you are a trusted business or festival organiser, we'll put millions on the table for you and allow you to bring the business plan forward at a later date. You can't have it two ways, First Minister. What's it going to be?