Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to increase tourism and tourism-related jobs in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.

The Government's five point plan for tourism published on 17 July made clear our commitment to increase tourism throughout the UK's nations and regions. You can see the plan at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/446167/Tourism_-_A_Five_Point_Plan.pdf Tourism is a devolved matter, but VisitBritain and VisitEngland work in partnership with VisitWales and VisitScotland, primarily through the GREAT campaign, to promote British holidays to overseas and domestic tourists.

2014 was a record breaking year for tourism in Wales, with overnight visits to Wales by GB residents reaching 10 million, with spend of £1.7 billion. I am looking forward to having regular and constructive conversations with my Welsh counterpart.