, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
So, it's the same organisation that did the work for us. So, it would be interesting to see if that figure for Wales has changed in five years. So, we'll know later in the year, and we'll obviously share that with you.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
And I think the Football Association of Wales have also undertaken—. I haven't seen what their report has come up with, but I think they had very similar findings, the FAW. They undertook a report on the social value of football in Wales. If it would be…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
Thanks, Carolyn, for that. We did commission a report from Sheffield Hallam University. That was back in 2018. And, actually, Sport Wales have re-commissioned them now to do a further report, which is going to cover exactly the areas that you've just talked…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
One thing I would also say, Chair, is that one of the things—we did give evidence on this in the culture committee as well—that we were going to be developing, or delivering, was a sports summit, which we did at the end of last year. We had over 200…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
Sorry, Jason.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
Well, I think we did explain, in rejecting that recommendation, that was explained to the committee at the time, and it was because we have the sport strategy that I've just set out and that Neil's just expanded on, and we didn't want to waste time and…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
So, if we start with Sport Wales, which is my responsibility, and we start with their Vision for Sport in Wales, which they published in 2018, that was a strategy for the whole sector of Wales, and that provides a platform for cross-sector engagement. That's…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
Well, again, I have to say, strictly speaking, public leisure services are not in my portfolio; they're the responsibility of the Minister for Finance and Local Government. But they're obviously integral to the delivery of sport, and many local sports clubs…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
Yes. What I would say is that libraries are integral to the considerations for the new culture strategy. It will include how the library standards work. So, we've consulted with representatives of the libraries sector, and we're including them in the next…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
Yes, that would be my understanding and my expectation. What we saw was a growth of digital provision through COVID, and I think we saw the benefits of that. It adds a whole new dimension to libraries. We would very much want to see that developed and made…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
Yes. So, officials began working on the seventh framework over the summer, and that will include a thorough review of the requirements of the existing framework, which I touched on earlier, because that's what we're still working to at the moment, and they're…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
Well, Unison is my union, of course, and so I listen very carefully to what Unison says, and, having been an official with that organisation for many years, I perhaps should declare an interest as well. But, no, I agree with the basic premise of what they're…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
I think my response to that would be very similar to the response to libraries. Although we have a statutory framework for libraries, tightening that statutory framework I don't think would be helpful. And it's certainly my view that legislating for the…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
Well, perhaps what I should say at this point is, it's the Minister for Finance and Local Government who has the lead portfolio in this area. So, I guess that is a question that would need to be put to her in terms of whether there's been consideration around…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
And I think, then, to kind of follow up on the other point of your question, which is about whether legislation would help to tie that down, I think I go back to my first answer, and would say that I think that the process of having a flexible approach to…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
No, I wouldn’t say that, because I think we’re clear within the Welsh public library standards what we expect of a minimum library service, but you’re quite right to point out that no Welsh Ministers have used statutory powers to intervene. That’s not to say…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
Well, the fact that you’re asking this question, I’m assuming that you know what’s in the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, because that requires authorities to provide—what is in the legislation is a 'comprehensive and efficient' service. So, the Act…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - Evidence from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
Yes. I think they can probably introduce themselves. We'll start with Jason.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Tourism
That is certainly the direction of travel that we are looking at, and that is where Ministers are minded to look at hypothecation of the visitor levy for those purposes. And I'll tell you for why—because it is well known that there are public costs associated…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Tourism
Sorry. I'm sorry, Andrew.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Tourism
But let me start, Llywydd, by agreeing with Tom Giffard about the value of the tourism sector as part of the visitor economy for Wales, which is recognised as a priority by the Welsh Government. That recognition and support is clear from the Visit Wales…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Tourism
Thank you. Diolch, Llywydd. I'm certainly grateful to Members for contributing to today's debate. But, Llywydd, I'm going to focus my response in the order of the Government's amendment to the motion, and I'll start by mentioning Wales Tourism Week. I'll be…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Tourism
Formally.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Well, can I thank Peter Fox for that supplementary question? And, again, as I said in my answer to Altaf, I don't come from the same premise that you come from in terms of the impact that a visitor levy would have on tourism. There was a significant…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I thank Peter Fox for that question. Visit Wales has invested in regional assets, such as Tintern abbey, and the region benefits from our year-round marketing, which highlights the unique and quality offering of Monmouthshire to visitors.
