This term the Senedd has mostly argued about how culture and sport will be funded and whether prevention money will follow. Members have also pressed ministers on the Welsh Rugby Union's plan to cut four professional regions to three, on broadcasting devolution, on national museum and library funding, and on legacy from events such as Euro 2028. Brexit and Wales's links with Europe appear in several exchanges.
The main arguments
Paul Davies (Welsh Conservatives) asks for a guaranteed real-terms rise and warns that a business-as-usual budget would leave the sector in danger. Heledd Fychan (Plaid Cymru) points to the first full Plaid Cymru budget later this year. Contributions: [1][2][3]
May 2021Mar 2026
1,702 contributions in the Sixth Senedd touched on this. The busiest month was Jan 2026, with 452.
Who raises it
Labour45%
Plaid38%
Conservative16%
Independent1%
Lib Dem0%
Share of the 910 contributions on this subject, by the speaker's party.
Jayne Bryant (Welsh Labour) and James Evans (Reform UK) ask which budget will pay for sport and arts as prevention. Darren Millar (Welsh Conservatives) says that money for prevention could mean less for hospitals. Heledd Fychan describes culture and sport as medical treatment. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
On the WRU plan, Reform UK Members (Louise Emery, Steven Rodaway) want all four regions kept and Government action. Heledd Fychan says the WRU is independent and the Government cannot give that commitment. Paul Davies and John Davies (Plaid Cymru) both call for transparency. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
On major events, Heledd Fychan says each bid must answer 'why' and show a legacy. Beca Brown (Plaid Cymru) and Shav Taj (Welsh Labour) ask about participation and accessibility. Mike Hedges (Welsh Labour) asks about a Commonwealth Games bid. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
On broadcasting, Paul Davies says his party opposes devolving it. Louise Emery (Reform UK) asks where the money would come from. Ken Skates (Welsh Labour) says BBC Wales needs protection now from cuts. Contributions: [1][2][3]
On national institutions, Heledd Fychan describes underinvestment and a need for a long-term plan for National Museum Cardiff. Paul Davies raises concerns about the museum's governance. Museum and library leaders asked for sustainable core funding. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
On Europe, Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats) argues Brexit costs Wales revenue. Helen Jenner (Reform UK) says Plaid Cymru is reopening the Brexit debate. Janet Finch-Saunders (Welsh Conservatives) presses on Holyhead breakwater timing. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Where the parties stand
Plaid Cymru
Heledd Fychan, as Cabinet Minister, says culture and sport are not optional and promises a strategy, a 100-day action plan, an £8 million arts capital fund and school swimming. She says the WRU is independent. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Reform UK
Members welcome investment in sport but press for figures: Louise Emery on budget share, James Evans on NHS money, Steven Rodaway on outcomes. Reform UK backs keeping all four rugby regions and questions devolving broadcasting. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Welsh Conservatives
Paul Davies welcomes the planned culture strategy but asks about resources and a real-terms guarantee. He says his party opposes devolving broadcasting and wants the WRU to publish its business case. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Welsh Labour
Members ask about funding for Creative Wales and the culture strategy, preventative funding and pitches. Ken Skates presses on BBC Wales jobs and Mike Hedges on facilities and a Commonwealth Games bid. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Welsh Liberal Democrats
Jane Dodds links Brexit to lost revenue for Wales and to red tape for farmers, and asks what ministers are doing with the UK Government on this. Contributions: [1][2]
Wales Green Party
Anthony Slaughter says the Barnett formula is unfair and that limits on funding hamper Wales taking its place on the international stage. He supports more borrowing powers. Contributions: [1]
What the government is being pressed on
1What share of the budget will culture and sport receive, and will there be a real-terms rise? Heledd Fychan said the first full budget comes later this year and she has Cabinet backing. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
2Which budget will fund preventative sport and arts, health or culture? Heledd Fychan pointed to cross-government work, school swimming and an action plan within 100 days. Contributions: [1][2][3]
3Will the Government assess the effect on businesses of losing a rugby region? Steven Rodaway said none had been made. Heledd Fychan said the WRU is independent and the Government does not fund professional teams. Contributions: [1][2][3]
4When will facilities needs be known? Mike Hedges asked about 3G and 4G pitches. Sport Wales described a three-stage audit with partner responses due on 23 October. Heledd Fychan promised transparency on the backlog. Contributions: [1][2][3]
5Where would money for devolved broadcasting come from? Louise Emery and Sam Rowlands asked. The material provided contains no ministerial reply to these points. Contributions: [1][2][3]
What the public is asking for
Petitions listed include one asking for Welsh Government partnership links with Cuba and Venezuela (39 signatures, open). Committee discussions covered a Basic Income for the Arts pilot (472 signatures) and a statue of Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd (1,971 signatures).
Who ministers are meeting
Ministers have met public service broadcasters (S4C, BBC, ITV), sport bodies such as Sport Wales, the WRU and the FAW, and national cultural institutions including the National Museum and National Library. They also met arts organisations and the Wrexham 2029 city of culture bid.
In the Sixth Senedd (2021 to 2026)
From the previous Senedd's record, for issues that run across both. The rest of this analysis covers the Seventh Senedd only.
In the Sixth Senedd, debate centred on Brexit's effects, funding cuts to culture and national institutions, and who can watch Welsh sport. Members from several parties pressed ministers on budgets, six nations broadcasting and Wales's international standing. Sport and culture were often framed as health and community benefits.
In June 2021 Darren Millar (Welsh Conservatives) marked five years since the referendum, while Alun Davies (Welsh Labour) and Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats) criticised the tone and stressed the difficulties for businesses. Contributions: [1][2][3]
In 2023 the culture committee's report on rising costs was debated. Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru) and Rhianon Passmore (Welsh Labour) warned of strain on the sector after the pandemic. Contributions: [1][2]
In 2024 a petition debate on cuts of 10.5 to 22.3 per cent to national institutions was held. Rhys ab Owen (Independent) said cuts were unsustainable. Heledd Fychan (Plaid Cymru) argued the collections belong to everyone in Wales. Contributions: [1][2][3]
In 2024 the Senedd debated six nations free-to-air coverage. Tom Giffard and James Evans (Welsh Conservatives) opposed a paywall, and Heledd Fychan stressed S4C's place for the Welsh language. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Written by AI on 30 October 2026 from 238 contributions in the Senedd between 19 May 2026 and 22 October 2026, with the petitions and ministers' meetings on this brief. Each point links to the contributions it draws on; check them before quoting. How the analysis is written.
What the government has promised
The Programme for Government 2026 to 2030 belongs to the Seventh Senedd. Choose the Seventh Senedd to see how often each commitment has come up.
Demanding fairness from Westminster: Powers for a purpose
Work towards the devolution of powers over broadcasting, including powers to regulate, supervise, and ensure accountability for broadcasting and communications in Wales. We will begin by establishing a Shadow Broadcasting and Communications Authority for Wales to protect and strengthen local and national public service media platforms.
Strengthening Wales through culture, heritage and sport
Work with the sector including our creative industries to create and deliver a targeted Culture and Sport Strategy for a healthier, wealthier and more resilient Wales.
Prioritise equality of access to the arts, culture, heritage and sport for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, considering how our entry policies can support this.
Bring forward a European Strategy which will include our determination to align with world‑leading European standards in environmental protection, public health and food.
Develop and implement a comprehensive Diaspora Strategy to promote Wales as a place for diaspora entrepreneurs to invest, and encourage and incentivise recent emigrants to return.
Source: Welsh Government, Programme for government 2026 to 2030: New ambition for Wales, first published on 10 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Mentions are found by matching the names of plans, bodies and schemes; a mention says nothing about progress.
Key moments in the Senedd
Statements, debates and legislation in Plenary on this brief, newest first. Oral question sessions are counted in the contributions below.
Each bar is the share of that party's speeches and questions in the Sixth Senedd that touched this brief, so large and small parties can be compared. The upright line marks the chamber as a whole: 0.63%.
Ministers' meetings with outside organisations and their engagements on this brief, from the register the Welsh Government publishes every three months. 38 since the 2026 election; the latest:
29 September 2026
BBC Cymru/ Wales
Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
13 September 2026
Interview Bid: ITV Wales
Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Finance
8 September 2026
S4C
Meeting, First Minister of Wales
25 August 2026
ITV Cymru/ITV Wales
Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
25 August 2026
BBC Cymru
Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
25 August 2026
BBC Wales
Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
13 August 2026
BBC Cymru Wales
Meeting, Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
5 August 2026
Eisteddfod- S4C Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Y Garreg Las
Meeting, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
30% of Welsh adults said brexit and Britain's future relationship with the EU would be very important to their vote.
Ipsos asked 747 Welsh adults aged 16+ between 2 April 2026 and 8 April 2026, before the 2026 Senedd election. People could choose as many issues as they liked. More on public opinion.
Written questions
16 written questions to the Welsh Government on this brief in the Sixth Senedd, 16 answered so far. The latest:
On 10 July 2024 the Senedd will debate the Culture, Welsh Language, Communications, Sport and International Relations Committee’s report, 6 Nations Rugby Championship broadcasting rights.
Tagged for: “broadcasting”Translated from WelshOfficial Record
Month by month
452
0
202120222023202420252026
Contributions tagged in each month of the Sixth Senedd. No sittings were held in August 2021, August 2022, August 2023, December 2024, February 2025, March 2025, April 2025, May 2025, June 2025, July 2025, August 2025, September 2025, October 2025, November 2025 and December 2025.Show the numbers
Month
Contributions
May 2021
0
June 2021
4
July 2021
0
August 2021
No sittings
September 2021
5
October 2021
154
November 2021
10
December 2021
5
January 2022
22
February 2022
4
March 2022
16
April 2022
1
May 2022
9
June 2022
42
July 2022
7
August 2022
No sittings
September 2022
8
October 2022
10
November 2022
10
December 2022
3
How this brief is put together
This brief follows the Programme commitments listed above and tags the record with the phrases below. Keyword matching can miss business that discusses the issue in other words, and can tag a passing mention.
Show the phrases it uses
A contribution is tagged when its English text contains one of these phrases. Capital letters don't matter, except in abbreviations, which must match exactly. It is also tagged when the title of the agenda item or question it was part of contains one, as long as the contribution is at least 30 words long. The brief is also tagged whenever one of its themes is.
