, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
I can't stay. I can't stay post 3 p.m., sorry.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
I think it's hugely concerning that our national museum is in a position where there's been such huge underinvestment. I'm very keen to understand what the plans are, what's needed and costs. I'm sure we're all excited to see what the proposals are, but, at…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Thank you.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
I'm content, if you have details about that lack of clarity—. But in terms of the Welsh Government, it's Sport Wales that has that responsibility, in terms of ensuring that the national governing bodies do have those policies in place.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Who is not sure about that, just for me to be able to understand, because Sport Wales does have that responsibility?
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Well, we want to ensure that everyone feels safe in terms of sports. Obviously, Sport Wales is responsible for ensuring that all of the national sporting bodies do safeguard, and that is something that is vitally important. I was in a cross-governmental…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
I think it's really important, as part of the work that's happening with the skills strategy, that creative industries feature strongly there, because it does come down to careers advice, teachers. We know that the creative industries and their economic…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Okay, that's fine.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Yes, certainly, they're really important. That's the first point I'd like to make. And I think some of the things that Creative Wales managed to do in the past few years have been reactive, and have been working with the industry in a way that has meant…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Yes, certainly, the workforce and the impact of AI is something that is also impacting a number of different elements of the portfolio, including artists, where, perhaps, posters are being generated by AI rather than using artists. There are a number of…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
And there are some recent developments. I don't know how many of you have had the pleasure of seeing Effi o Blaenau as of yet, which has been a huge success, and it's a Welsh language film, and there is now a commitment to invest in Welsh language film on an…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
No, you just can speak.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Thank you very much for that question. Creative Wales is now six years old, and, as part of the new strategy and bringing creative industries in, we are really looking at all of those elements. I will ask Joedi if she has specific responses to those questions.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
I couldn't agree more with you. I think what I would be keen to do is to explore—. If you think about the Euros 2028, some of the matches will also be in Ireland, which means people will be travelling by ferry. Well, that's a fantastic opportunity. If they've…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Definitely, and the conversations I've had already, such as with those leading on the Euros 2028, are that they think Wales is a brilliant venue, that Cardiff itself is a venue that fans coming to Wales will really be blown away by: the fact that our stadium…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
When you look at major events, we've got two major things coming to Wales—and we have had major events in Wales. So, the Tour de France next year, followed by the Euros in 2028, two major events, and there will be investment going in, in terms of facilities…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Well, one of the things we're looking at is identifying those gaps, understanding how old some of the pitches are as well, because it's not just having them, it's making sure the funding's there to ensure that they're invested in and able to remain open. It's…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Thank you. I had the honour of being in Glasgow, and I have to say that it was great to see that Team Cymru—. If you weren't from Wales, they were everyone's second favourite team. We definitely captured the imagination of Glasgow, the city, and other…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Well, clearly, the work on charter renewal is happening now. When I wasn't in Government, I did ensure that we did submit evidence to that. This committee in the past has been very clear in writing to the DCMS on the importance of Wales having a voice, that…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
I accept that that was the figure indicated, but I want to make sure whether that is the genuine figure, or is it more? Is it less? Those are the kinds of things that, in Government now, I'm able to scrutinise much better before I come before you for scrutiny.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
That's something that I want to see as the next stage of that work, because clearly we need to understand what the costs are and look in detail at those.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Yes.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Yes.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Yes. The initial cost being invested in this financial year is £45,000, and that's to develop the work further. As costs become clearer, those are then obviously going to be decisions for Government in terms of how we take that forward. But that's the initial…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
I'm extremely concerned, and I do hope that it's something that we as a Government and you as a committee can really look at, and hopefully we'll be able to co-operate in addressing these concerns. Because that's what's difficult at the moment: we don't have…
