, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Okay, I think I'm going to have to pass over to Paul. I certainly didn't have a discussion—. When I met them, I didn't have a discussion around a review of English theatre. Regarding the budget, my understanding is that the two budgets are together.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Yes, absolutely. I don't disagree with anything Laura Anne has just said.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Yes, of course. I mentioned that I've had discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for economy to see if there's anything we can do in his portfolio; I've had discussions with Eluned Morgan as well. I'm just trying to find anything that I can.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
So, again, you’re all very aware, and I know I’ve answered questions, particularly to the two Members over here, in the Chamber around it. I’m still trying to see if I can find some additional funding for them. ACW—the Arts Council of Wales—took a cut, but…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Is that okay?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
And she met with the principal. But I don’t know if you heard me saying that I was at the National Dance Company Wales yesterday, and we were talking about the lack of dance qualifications in Wales. So, I will be picking that up, because you’re absolutely…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Yes. I think the reason I said it was in Lynne Neagle’s portfolio was that I was trying to explain why I hadn’t answered the correspondence to the Chair.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
No.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
But, certainly, I'm going to have those conversations. Shall I come back to the WNO?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
It might be good if you shared that with the Cabinet Secretary.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Yes, absolutely. Well, I mentioned I'm having bilaterals with every Cabinet Secretary and Minister, so that will be on the agenda.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Well, I don't think so, no.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
No, I don't think it was—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Okay. Clearly, the college is an autonomous organisation. They have to make their academic decisions, but, as I say, the Cabinet Secretary did meet, and I'm pleased to hear she has responded.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
—but it's been transferred to Lynne Neagle. I hope she's responded.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
So, the college sits in Lynne Neagle's portfolio. I know she met the principal on Monday evening about it and, Chair, I think you wrote to me—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Well, I just mentioned about Celf ar y Cyd. So, that to me, now, is what we must be promoting. I was disappointed to hear Lee say he hadn't seen it before, because we are having a big push on the digitalisation of our national treasures. We've got 100,000…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Well, Creative Wales isn't in my portfolio, but certainly within my portfolio there are lots of opportunities. You heard me mention earlier that I went to the national dance company. I have to say, I knew very little about the national dance company before I…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
So, if we think about it realistically, we're out to consultation now—the consultation doesn't close until 4 September. By the time we've had all the consultation responses in and we've come forward with an implementation plan, it's going to be next year. So…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
So, I think we have to be very honest that all portfolios have got budget challenges. However, I've had very positive discussions with my Cabinet Secretary colleagues. I'm having bilaterals with them all over the summer recess to discuss a variety of issues…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
So, I don't have any more revenue. I'm obviously very aware of the job losses; we had voluntary redundancies that no-one wants to see. I've met with the trade unions. I've met with the trade unions a couple of times now. Clearly, there are concerns about…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Oh, yes, sorry, I said I'd come back to the jobs.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Yes, where they can apply. I don't think we've gone out for bids yet, have we?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Yes, that's absolutely the position at the current time. And certainly, when I came into post, obviously, we still had the co-operation agreement, and I had a few chats with Siân Gwenllian and Cefin Campbell around that. And I think we all recognise that we…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Ministerial scrutiny: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Yes. We've got nine, and somewhere in here I have a list of the nine local galleries, museums that are already hosting exhibitions—there we go; Paul's just found it—right across Wales. So, they're already hosting exhibitions. We're carrying on with the…
