, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I'd like to say I thank Tom Giffard for that question, but I'm not sure I do, because I really find it very difficult to take lectures from a party that has waged preventable austerity on culture, arts and sport, while trashing the UK's reputation globally…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Wales's culture sectors are an integral part of society and the nation's well-being. The Welsh Government provides direct funding to support the arts and culture sectors, sets out strategic priorities for our cultural arm's-length bodies and acts as the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism: Statutory registration and licensing of visitor accommodation
I thank Darren Millar for those comments. I think we need to be very clear: all visitor accommodation comes within scope in terms of what we look at. Obviously, personal accommodation—personal caravans that people have—wouldn't be covered. That's a piece of…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism: Statutory registration and licensing of visitor accommodation
Thank you, Sam Rowlands, for those questions. Well, the statutory licensing, I mean, we're moving to registration to start with and then to a statutory licensing scheme for the reasons that I set out in the statement. We do want to have compliance and we do…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism: Statutory registration and licensing of visitor accommodation
Thank you, Carolyn Thomas, for those comments, and you're absolutely right: central to this legislation is our concern about the loss of residential accommodation to short-term holiday lets in particular. What I would say is, in terms of who will administer…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism: Statutory registration and licensing of visitor accommodation
Diolch, Mabon, for those comments and for your support for what we are seeking to do in co-operation with your party and as part of our programme for government. We have a joint ambition, don't we, on making sure that we have a thriving tourist economy in…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism: Statutory registration and licensing of visitor accommodation
Okay. Well, can I thank Tom Giffard for those comments and for your initial positive comments in terms of the statement? I'll just deal with a couple of the points that you've raised first of all. You, understandably and quite rightly, raise the pitfalls in…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism: Statutory registration and licensing of visitor accommodation
The report shows that amongst residents across Wales, three in five—that's 59 per cent—believe that they have 'some' or 'a lot of' tourism in their area. Of those residents, the biggest perceived positive impact—69 per cent—was to the local economy. But that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism: Statutory registration and licensing of visitor accommodation
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. The Welsh Government is committed to supporting a vibrant visitor economy all year round throughout Wales, whilst also helping secure thriving communities in a rapidly changing economy. We recognise how both outcomes depend on each…
, Plenary
Short Debate: The importance of grass-roots rugby in communities
Of course, there are alternative versions of rugby that are established, such as walking rugby, touch rugby and sevens, and that allows even more people to take part. And to support clubs to build on this, the WRU have set up their Dysgu WRU programme, which…
, Plenary
Short Debate: The importance of grass-roots rugby in communities
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I'll give a big shout out to Merthyr RFC while I'm on my feet, thank you. Okay, thank you, James, for this very important debate this afternoon. Grass-roots rugby, along with all grass-roots community sport, is, of course, an…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Can I thank Jayne Bryant for that supplementary and, actually, put on record my acknowledgement of the severe difficulties that increased energy costs continue to inflict across sport sectors and across our economy as a whole? It's of particular concern for…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I thank Jayne Bryant for that question. The impact of the cost-of-living crisis continues to be felt in the sport sector. The Welsh Government is providing additional financial support through Sport Wales to our national governing bodies to assist with their…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I'm not even sure that that tirade warrants a response, Llywydd.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
No, absolutely not, but I can't pick and choose as the arts Minister. I can't pick and choose where the Arts Council of Wales carries out its responsibilities as an arm's-length body. The very nature of an arm's-length body means that that is exactly what…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Can I thank Tom Giffard for that question? As you know, all Welsh Government funding for the arts is channelled through the Arts Council of Wales, and they operate on an arm's-length principle. And under that principle, the investment review, which is what…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
You have to strike that balance between what is right for tourism and what is right for local residents. And we did hear concerns from residents living close to pop-up campsites, who've complained about noise and disruption. And, obviously, we've got issues…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Well, thank you for that supplementary question, Janet. And you're quite right, extending the time limit for temporary use of land for campsites was part of the measures around the COVID-19 pandemic. We had restrictions on foreign travel, so we were trying to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Can I thank Janet Finch-Saunders for that question? I regularly engage with the visitor economy stakeholders in relation to tourism and wider matters, including permitted development rights.
, Plenary
Topical Questions
I thought you were shutting me up; I do apologise. I was just concluding by saying that, to take that in the round, I absolutely agree, in essence, with what Tom Giffard is saying.
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Just to conclude, Llywydd, it's—
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Can I thank Tom Giffard for that further question? I absolutely agree with what he's saying. Colleagues will know about my background, before coming into the Senedd. I spent 30 years involved in industrial relations, and having to negotiate my way through, on…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Yes, just to thank Alun Davies for those comments and I would like to associate myself with them, because, I think, like all the sporting bodies in Wales, we have a right to expect the WRU to provide a safe environment for its staff, its players, for children…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Thank you for that supplementary question, which, of course, we have examined and explored many times, including when I gave evidence to the committee and when the committee published its report. A number of the recommendations in that report were for Welsh…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Can I thank Heledd Fychan for that question? Members will be aware that I issued a written statement this morning on the publication of the independent panel's report. The Welsh Government welcomes the publication of this report, and we'll be working with all…
