, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with the Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries
It feels that S4C's budget is too small. It feels like that in terms of looking historically at where S4C was 20-odd years ago and where S4C is today, and given the explosion in competition and the rest of it and, as you described, a changing world, and I've…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with the Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries
It's important, and it is important for, I think, the integrity of the union that the union Government, the UK Government, has responsibilities in these matters and is seen to be delivering on them.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with the Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries
Okay. I will finish on this. But as long as broadcasting remains a reserved function, the United Kingdom Government has a role and a responsibility as well, and I don't think you can simply say, 'This is all the BBC, this is nothing to do with us, guv'.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with the Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries
Certainly, when I worked in broadcasting, I would tell politicians, 'We don't live in Russia, you don't tell us what to broadcast', and I remember having those conversations with colleagues of mine here and colleagues of yours in Westminster. And I appreciate…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with the Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries
Can I—?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with the Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries
Well, I'm trying to get you to express views this morning.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with the Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries
You say that, and I accept that to some extent, but you are the Minister, and these are not devolved matters. As someone who has argued against the devolution of broadcasting over the years, I sometimes feel I'm arguing against the interests of the people I…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with the Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries
I quite agree with you, and I think the way in which the draft Bill addresses the issue of due prominence is a very creative response to a very real challenge; I have no issue with that at all. But, you know, we've been debating the changing world in the…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with the Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries
That's good to hear. So, what are your ambitions, then, Minister, in terms of how that media Bill will impact upon my constituents in Blaenau Gwent?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with the Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries
I was glad to see that you've published a draft media Bill. I think it's good to see a draft Bill, so we can have a debate that is more focused than you'd have on a White Paper. I think that's always a very useful thing to do; it's very good that Government…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with the Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries
I didn't just mean the debates that take place here, I meant the reporting of the news from the country as a whole. Holding us to account is one role, but it's not the only role.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with the Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries
Thank you. It's good to see you in Cardiff, and we're grateful for your time today. I was interested in the way you answered the Chair's first question, when she asked about the needs of Wales. You specifically referred to the language, and that's fair…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
It's the business productivity enhancement programme that I wanted to ask you about this afternoon, Minister. Yesterday, in a statement on regional economies, I thought you were very clear in terms of how the Welsh Government wanted to invest in the economy…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
7. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for businesses in Blaenau Gwent? OQ60103
, Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion on the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill
A more uncharitable figure would argue that perhaps the representatives from some constituencies aren't as strong as others. But I don't believe—[Interruption.] I don't believe—[Interruption.] I don't believe the point—. I don't believe that the point that…
, Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion on the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill
The Member is still quite new to this place, but my advice to him would be that, if he's going to intervene on some of these issues, he should read the White Paper that I'm describing, and you should read it before you intervene. Had you read it, then you…
, Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion on the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill
I'm grateful to you, Deputy Presiding Officer, for this opportunity to comment on this LCM. I have to say—I may as well be absolutely honest with the whole Chamber—when I made the speaking request, I did assume that the Government would be asking us to vote…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Regional Economic Development
I'm grateful to the Minister for his statement this afternoon. The biggest investment that the Welsh Government has made in the economy of the northern Valleys of Blaenau Gwent is that in the A465 dualling project, and the local authority are very clear that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Update on 2023-24 Financial Position
Do you agree? [Laughter.]
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Update on 2023-24 Financial Position
[Inaudible.]—to borrow and deliver the financial management that is required to manage a £20 billion budget.
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Update on 2023-24 Financial Position
We need to address the Barnett formula, which isn't delivering fair funding for Wales; we need to address the Treasury, which is a failing Government department under all administrations; and we need to have a fair distribution and redistribution of funding…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Update on 2023-24 Financial Position
I'd like to thank the Minister for her statement this afternoon. I think it's the easiest thing in the world for Members on all sides of the Chamber to stand up and suggest alternative ways of meeting the demands of the budget, and I think Members should, in…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
It is, of course, exactly a year ago today that Jeremy Hunt reversed all the measures in Liz Truss's disastrous budget, and a year ago this week that Liz Truss was forced from office. But, in that year, we haven't heard a single apology from any Conservative…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting
Now, we've reached item 8, which is a motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public for the remainder of this meeting. Are Members content? I see Members are content, so I'll ask the clerk to take us into private session.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Papers to note
So, we'll move on to item 7, papers to note. Item 7.1, correspondence from the Minister for Climate Change in response to recommendation 1 in the committee's report on the Welsh Government's legislative consent memoranda on the Energy Bill. This is responding…
