, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Well, you will have heard me say in an answer to Laura Anne Jones that I can't give any commitment about next year's budget because we've got no certainty on future funding at the moment. We are expecting another multi-year funding settlement. But, of course…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Thank you. Well, Rhianon Passmore, I think, on day three in the job, was knocking on my door around the WNO, and they know, in this Senedd—and certainly this was something we discussed yesterday—they have cross-party support, and I think that is really…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Welsh Government funding for the arts is channelled through the Arts Council of Wales. I met with the chair and chief executive of ACW last month to discuss the current position of the arts sectors in Wales, including the music sector. Under the arm's-length…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
I think it's very important that people don't opt out of services that they need, and this is something I will certainly be happy to discuss with my colleague.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
This morning, I co-chaired my first disability rights taskforce, and it was a very interesting meeting, to hear from the working group's streams that had been set up by my predecessor, Jane Hutt. This was the tenth meeting of the disability rights taskforce…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Our assessment of the effects of rising costs in Wales, including for disabled people, has been informed by the voices of people affected and through consideration by our Cabinet sub-committee. Using the levers we have, during 2022-25, we have provided…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
I'm sure the Member won't be surprised that I do not agree with her, and that's why we need a UK Labour Government as soon as possible.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Thank you. I certainly do agree that the case is made for devolution. We've had a variety of commissions. We've had the Thomas commission. We've had the Brown commission, and, most recently, we had, obviously, the commission that was chaired by Laura…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Diolch. Welsh Government has been working with a range of academics and practitioners with experience in probation to advise on the future of probation services in Wales. The Wales Centre for Public Policy was commissioned to take forward specific research to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Diolch. I think it was really important that we launched the consultation. As I say, we're doing that this week, and I really pay tribute to the work that Siân Gwenllian has done with us, and Plaid Cymru, as part of the co-operation agreement. And as you say…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
No, I'm not a lone voice at all. I had a discussion with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language around the export value of the WNO. He absolutely fully appreciates that. I've had a discussion with the Cabinet Secretary for Education…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Of course I recognise the concerns. You will have heard my answers to Laura Anne Jones about looking to see what I can do to support the sector. And I do think it's absolutely the right time to launch the consultation, and we will be doing that this week…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Well, the Member will appreciate that I can't offer any long-term surety, because we don't know what our budget will be. We assume we're going to get another multi-year settlement, but we don't know. So, unfortunately, I can't offer the assurance. What I can…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
So, I don't think you need to take my word for it. The WNO—one of the people who I met with yesterday, their finance director, Stephanie, was at great pains to tell me of all the work that they're doing to support that service, because they absolutely…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Very unusually, I disagree with very little of what Laura Anne Jones has said. Have we ever heard a protest like that on the Senedd steps? I don't think so. It was truly incredible. I fully appreciate the concerns around the Welsh National Opera. I met with…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
I wasn't going to say, 'I visited', but, as you say, I have. I'm trying to remember if it was in 2021 or—. I think it was 2021 I visited. I remember I had to wear a face covering, so it was around that time. And I'm ashamed to say it was the first time I…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Museum development support in Wales is provided directly by the Welsh Government. This support includes a workforce development programme, a capital grant fund and revenue grants delivered through the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales. All…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Thank you. Yes, I'd certainly be very happy to meet with you to discuss. We do have some armed forces-specific sport schemes. As you know, we've got our free swimming scheme, for instance; that continues to provide local authorities with the funding to enable…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Thank you. I absolutely agree with you on that last point, and that's why I'm so pleased that culture, which obviously includes sport, and social justice have been put together in one portfolio, because I absolutely agree with you that it does play a key…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
The Welsh Government has maintained capital funding for Sport Wales at £8 million in 2024-25. The artificial turf pitch collaboration group and the court collaboration group determine successful projects following an application process.
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Thank you. I repeat that I really do not want to hear any speculation, but I absolutely accept Welsh Government's part in the delivery of healthcare at HMP Parc. I haven't had a specific meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, but…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Thank you. I think you raise some very important points, and I too want to pay tribute to the staff at the prison who are having to deal with a very difficult situation, and I suppose that's what I was trying to say in my answer to Luke Fletcher—a lot of this…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Thank you. As I say, there is that partnership approach going forward. Whilst the running of prisons is a reserved matter, of course, the health of prisoners here in Wales is devolved to the Welsh Government. I’ve already met with the Minister of State for…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Thank you. I send my sincere condolences to all those affected by the recent deaths at HMP Parc prison. The operational running of prisons is reserved, however Welsh Government is liaising with the UK Government and other partners to ensure action is being…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Can I just come back to Alun's first point? I don't disagree with you about the funding, and, obviously, we had to make some very difficult choices. So, I've come in at a time when, as you say, the budget has been cut significantly. So, I think that, in the…
