, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Thank you very much. May I ask you about Arfor 2? Because there was a reference in the paper, but there's no clarity in terms of the funding. What discussions have you had with the Cabinet Secretary for the economy about this? Because, as she gave evidence to…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Yes. I just wanted to ask about the funding available in the budget for the Welsh language sabbatical scheme. That remains at £3.8 million, and, given all the issues we've been discussing in terms of, for example, growth in Welsh-medium education, and the…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Thank you.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Yes. Because I think the expectations are different, so clarity on that is key. Thank you.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Yes, please, because, in terms of clarity, I think it would be very beneficial to have that £3.5 million—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
You referred at the beginning of this session, in response to the Chair, to the £3.5 million that was clearly from the co-operation agreement, and we had confirmation last year from the Minister at the time, Jeremy Miles, that that £3.5 million in terms of…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Thank you for that explanation.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Thank you very much. If we can move on, could I ask you to explain what the rationale is for transferring the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol funding out of the Welsh in education BEL, following recent Cabinet changes, and how this aligns with current ministerial…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
One of the things that I hear from the mentrau iaith in the areas that represent is that, yes, they have been staging festivals, but because of costs or other reasons—it could be Brexit or the cost of hiring equipment—the future of these festivals is…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Thank you.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Thank you.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
But evidently, some of the changes that have been funded by the Government—. If I take the example of Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Sion Norton in the Pontypridd area and that school being moved, there was a cylch meithrin in Cilfynydd that was funded and that…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Thank you for that explanation. I'm pleased to hear that you think that you're on track in terms of the 150 new cylch settings by 2028. Evidently, the previous Minister had noted that 43 new settings had opened by 2021, with work continuing on opening a…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Thank you, Chair. May I ask specifically about Mudiad Meithrin? Clearly, you mentioned there about organisations having a flatline budget last year. The total that they receive has remained consistent over the last few years. Can you provide us with some…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: NHS waiting times
'I'd like to raise an issue with you as my representative. I was referred for an adult ADHD diagnosis three years ago, and I only received confirmation of being on the waiting list last year. So, I have no idea how long I'll be waiting for. This is getting to…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: NHS waiting times
Buffy Williams and I represent the same region—there's innovative work, excellent work being done there, but certainly there is a genuine impact being felt, and we can't ignore the case work that we receive either. And as part of the frightening statistics…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: New UK Government's first six months
Well, it's ironic, isn’t it, that it's the Conservatives who are bringing forward this debate today, as we know how damaging their austerity agenda was for individuals and communities in Wales, and the fact that our communities are still feeling the impacts…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
So, have you now decided whether you support the devolution of broadcasting, and if so, when can we expect to see movement in terms of the work on this matter being progressed, because we cannot afford to wait a second longer?
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
'I don't think I'm saying that I'm against the devolution of broadcasting. I think I'm saying I'd like to do the piece of work around that to form my view and to see where we take this conversation next.'
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
—because, last week, we heard the news that Capital Cymru is bringing all of its Welsh programmes to an end. These changes are possible following the introduction of the new media Act last October, which eradicates any requirements in terms of stations'…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
What culture has achieved is despite of Welsh Government. They could achieve so much more with a Government behind that sector. Let's be clear on that. And it doesn't—. If you look at the situation, Scotland was in a similar position in terms of having to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
behind most European countries in terms of arts and sports funding. And let’s be clear, this isn’t a one-off situation over one year; it’s been a problem for over a decade. Last year, Michael Sheen stated, 'We are not going to let our country die, are we. We…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
'Land of bards and singers, famous men of renown'
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
But it’s not alive and well as a sector, is it, Minister? You should know this as the Minister with responsibility, because obviously Michael Sheen isn’t alone in voicing his concerns. I’m sure you’ve read the report by the culture committee, published last…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
So, as the Minister responsible for this sector, what is your assessment of the state of the sector? And do you agree with Eluned Morgan or with Michael Sheen?
