Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Heledd Fychan, for that question, and I think it's a very fair point. As you quite rightly say, we do have a basic income pilot running in Wales and we do need to evaluate that. I think that evaluation will then inform where we take that scheme further, beyond the pilot. You'll be aware that, through the pandemic, we did have a support scheme for freelancers in particular that...
Dawn Bowden: Okay. So, a number of points there. Obviously, what I would say—and I won't single out the National Eisteddfod specifically, because all of our cultural organisations and bodies are experiencing very, very similar issues and I'm having regular discussions with all of them. In fact, part of those discussions do form the discussions that I have with your colleagues Siân Gwenllian and Cefin...
Dawn Bowden: Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you, Llyr, and everyone else, actually, who's contributed to this afternoon's short debate. There's no doubt at all that the horse-racing industry contributes significantly to the Welsh economy and provides employment across many different areas, from stable help to hospitality. And as Llyr pointed out at the beginning of his contribution, it's the sport with the...
Dawn Bowden: I absolutely would, yes, and presumably you'll be paying for all the bets, Darren.
Dawn Bowden: But can I also just tell another very, very short anecdote? Those of you who are as old as me will remember the 1992 Grand National. I was in hospital, having my eldest son at the time, and the 1992 Grand National was in April, and the winner was Party Politics, and it was five days before the general election of 1992, and I bet on Party Politics, just because it was the general election, and...
Dawn Bowden: We'll have a charabanc outing.
Dawn Bowden: Thank you Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you to Cefin Campbell for introducing this important debate today. As you will be aware, supporting social enterprises across Wales to develop is one of the key aims of the Welsh Government.
Dawn Bowden: Our vision is a well-being economy that drives prosperity and is environmentally sound and helps everyone to realise their potential. It's rooted in our existing economic action plan, 'Prosperity for All', with its progressive purposes of reducing inequality and spreading wealth and well-being across all of Wales. Our economic well-being is without doubt tied to our environmental, cultural...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Public commemoration is central to the way in which we represent—
Dawn Bowden: I was having the feedback in my ear then, sorry. I'll start again.
Dawn Bowden: Public commemoration is central to the way in which we represent our history, promote our values and celebrate our communities. But it can sometimes be controversial, and will always be an issue of considerable public interest. Today, I am delighted to announce that we are going out to public consultation on 'Public commemoration in Wales: guidance for public bodies'.
Dawn Bowden: This guidance is intended to help public bodies make good decisions that manage the risks of controversy, that take opportunities to create a more informed relationship with our history, and that genuinely celebrate the diversity of our communities. The guidance fulfils a commitment in the programme for government to address fully the recommendations of 'The Slave Trade and the British...
Dawn Bowden: Can I thank Tom Giffard for those largely supportive comments and some of the very constructive suggestions that he made? To try and take your points in order, Tom, it is our intention that all decisions made on how we commemorate, both in terms of future and existing public commemorations, are made by local people and that there is as wide a possible involvement in that as we possibly can....
Dawn Bowden: Diolch yn fawr, Heledd, and thank you for the support for the work that we're doing, because it is hugely important work. We talked about this as being something that has been developing over the course of a couple of years. We developed a lot of this work in the wake of the Black Lives Matter campaign and the murder of George Floyd and what we saw happen around the world. We've taken that...
Dawn Bowden: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and can I thank Members for what was a very interesting and important debate this afternoon? And in the time available to me, I'm clearly not going to be able to cover each and every point that was raised this afternoon. I will try to concentrate my comments specifically on the report and its recommendations, and I'll pick up one or two others as I go through. But I am...
Dawn Bowden: I know the committee has had concerns about the number of recommendations that were rejected, so I’d like to use this opportunity to expand on the reasons why and also to reassure Members that it’s not because I necessarily disagree with the findings. Recommendation 1 asks for a new national approach for participation in sport and physical activity in disadvantaged areas. I am not...
Dawn Bowden: Indeed, of course I will.
Dawn Bowden: I absolutely agree with you, Alun. What I'm saying, what I'm trying to lay out here today, is that from the Welsh Government's perspective in relation to what we are able to invest in sporting facilities, both revenue and capital, we are trying to maximise the budget that we have to deliver the most effective outcomes. The committee also recommended establishing a pilot scheme similar to New...
Dawn Bowden: —and how it could be developed. A couple of recommendations were focused on improving access to school and community facilities, and Members will be aware that the Minister for Education and Welsh Language has announced £24.9 million to support schools to operate and develop as community-focused schools, reaching out to engage with families and pupils, particularly those disadvantaged by...
Dawn Bowden: Diolch, Llywydd. I do very much welcome this debate to note the importance of Small Business Saturday and to, of course, recognise the vital contribution that small businesses make in sustaining local economies, developing communities and creating jobs. And as others have already said, SMEs are the lifeblood of the Welsh economy and make up over 99 per cent of Welsh businesses, accounting for...
