, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I'm grateful to the First Minister for that response. People in the Heads of the Valleys have seen the Welsh Government investing in the future of their people, their communities and our economy. We've seen not just the dualling of the A465, which the First…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
4. Will the First Minister make a statement on investment in the Heads of the Valleys? OQ57077
, Plenary
Short Debate: Delivering the vision: Levelling up the Valleys
There's a lesson in consistency of personnel, of Ministers. There have been too many Ministers involved over too short a period of time, and I hope that the Minister that is in his place this afternoon will be in his place for many afternoons and will be able…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Delivering the vision: Levelling up the Valleys
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I'm grateful to you for allowing this short debate. Tom Giffard has asked for a minute of my time this afternoon, so I will ensure that I conclude my remarks in time for him to be able to speak. Levelling up is one of those…
, Plenary
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Community benefits of energy projects
Well, there's certainly a lack of activity in terms of communicating what you're doing to anybody in the world at all. But the point I'd like to make is that, quite often, and it's one of the lessons from Ynni'r Fro, a great deal of Government time is spent…
, Plenary
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Community benefits of energy projects
Will you take an intervention?
, Plenary
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Community benefits of energy projects
No, it isn't. I think we need to elevate the debate rather than try to reduce it. And, do you know, Jayne—? I'm looking at you, Jayne. Janet, I would implore you not simply to read out a speech, but to appreciate what that means, and that goes beyond simply…
, Plenary
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Community benefits of energy projects
I'm grateful to you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm grateful as well to Rhun ap Iorwerth for bringing forward this debate. When I was reading the order paper and I read the title of the debate—community benefits of energy—the word that stuck out at me was…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Academics
Thank you. I was just thinking, it was very useful to understand those different means of funding streams for both public service broadcasting, but also different funding streams for the creation of content in the wider sense. And I think it may be useful if…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Academics
Caitriona, can I ask you, am I alone in the world in feeling like this? I know you studied in different parts of small-nation broadcasting. Are there other models of regulation in places that are more similar to Wales? We heard in the last session about…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Academics
I hear what you're saying, Hywel—and we've known each other for some years, and we've had this discussion several times as well.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Academics
But you can't say—. Hywel, you can't capitulate every time a broadcaster tells you you're going too far in terms of regulation. And I think that's really the history of Ofcom, isn't it?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Academics
I agree—I know that.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Academics
Yes, I can see Hywel's indicated there.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Academics
Can I come in there? The defence that the regulators failed others, as well as you, isn't a very strong defence of the regulator, and I don't think it is simply a matter for PSBs, although, clearly, it is. It's also a matter for Ofcom, and it's Ofcom that has…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Academics
Okay. Thank you for that. I want to focus in on the English language, if we could for a moment, because most of us who are bilingual have two cultural expressions, don't we? We have cultural expression in the Welsh language and in the English language. And I…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Academics
That's reassuring, at least.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Academics
Can I just come back to you on that, Hywel? I don't know whether that answers the question about how prominent these apps are, because I accept the point about the content—that is fair enough—but I don't think it answers the question that you've set yourself.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Academics
So, how do we do it, then? You've all spoken about due prominence, and it used to be a fairly simple thing, wasn't it? You could regulate who got what number on the EPG and it was very straightforward. ITV would tell you, 'It's not worth as much as you think…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Public service broadcasters
Okay.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Public service broadcasters
Can I interrupt you quickly and break Rhuanedd's heart? Would you accept cash from a licence fee in the future, just in hypothetical terms?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Public service broadcasters
One minute each—there we go.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Public service broadcasters
What happens next, then? The three of you have been very clear in the things that are important for yourselves in different ways, and, in many ways, from our perspective, it's a lot cleaner, if you like, with S4C, because we've got a chief executive in front…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Public service broadcasters
Sorry, I just wanted to come back to you, Rhuanedd, as we are short of time. I don't think it's a secret, but, when I worked for S4C, I was arguing for this set-up, because I thought it would provide greater assurance for S4C, so I was very pleased to hear…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Future of public service media: Public service broadcasters
Yes, and I understand that message, Rhuanedd, about the licence fee. May I ask Mr Evans about the licence? You share your funding now with the BBC, through the licence fee. So, as a broadcaster, and as a chief executive—perhaps you have more freedom now that…
