Siân Gwenllian: 1. Will the Minister provide an update on the support that will be available to the arts in Wales after the UK Government announced a package to support the sector to cope with the effects of COVID-19? TQ466
Siân Gwenllian: At last, the announcement came from the Minister for culture in England on funding for the arts in Wales. It's very frustrating to have to wait for such announcements before Welsh Government can take any action. I'm sure you would agree with that. Will you proceed without delay to establish a taskforce, to include every part of the sector, to draw up an action plan to save the arts sector...
Siân Gwenllian: Certainly, the publication of the draft Bill is an important milestone and, as the children's commissioner said this week, we must look at the new curriculum as a pledge to every child in Wales, and, in making that pledge, each and every one of us in this Senedd is duty bound to scrutinise this new legislation very carefully indeed in order to avoid unintended consequences and to ensure that...
Siân Gwenllian: May I ask for a statement on funding for the arts? There are huge concerns that have been raised about the £59 million that was announced and broadly reported last week. It appears now that this sum of money is not available, and there's nothing near that sum available for the arts sector in Wales after all. We need clarity. First of all, how much money will be available for the sector?...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to hear that the Government is content to accept the Plaid Cymru amendment—a very good start to the debate. Our amendment relates to enforcement and calls on the Welsh Government to set out its proposals in terms of enforcement and appropriate resources for enforcement agencies as part of the consultation. We are in favour of the introduction...
Siân Gwenllian: Whilst recognising that school closure was a necessary part of controlling the pandemic, there was clear consensus among witnesses to the committee that the impact of not being at school on the well-being of very many children was very significant indeed. Hefin David has just described his own experience and his children’s experience very clearly, and others across Wales will have faced all...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you for the statement. I too would like to thank everyone who is seeking to ensure that our children and young people are able to return to education in a safe manner, which is a huge challenge, of course, particularly as we see positive COVID cases on the rise among our children and young people, with dozens of schools now having been affected already by the coronavirus crisis. I...
Siân Gwenllian: 1. Will the Minister make a statement on efforts to reintroduce eagles in Snowdonia? OQ55521
Siân Gwenllian: Will you join with me in expressing grave concern about this idea, which apparently is being put forward by one gentleman and doesn't have support from anywhere else within Snowdonia? Farmers are concerned that eagles would attack their stock, and there is concern about the impact on biodiversity as there isn't enough sustenance in the area for eagles. The Royal Society for the Protection of...
Siân Gwenllian: 7. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the administrative court’s judgement in the case of Driver v. Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council? OQ55555
Siân Gwenllian: This judgment was made by Judge Fraser over the summer, wasn't it, and was a success for a group that is fighting to keep schools open in the Pontypridd catchment area, including Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Siôn Norton. The deficient decision taken by Rhondda Cynon Taf council meant that a disadvantaged community could have been excluded from Welsh-medium education, and the council now needs...
Siân Gwenllian: 8. What discussions is the Counsel General having with public authorities and the legal sector regarding the contribution of the law to achieving the Cymraeg 2050 strategy? OQ55556
Siân Gwenllian: I’ve already talked about the significance of the judgment made by Judge Fraser in the case of the Pontypridd schools, and the decision has been welcomed from supporters of the Welsh language in the legal profession. Michael Imperato, in a recent discussion on the adjudication, talked of the ripple effect that that case would have. Can you confirm how you as a Government will inform public...
Siân Gwenllian: I too would like to thank everyone working in this important sector for their contributions over the past few months in caring for children, including children of some of our care workers, so that they could continue to maintain front-line services. Unfortunately, half of the providers had to close their doors, but now many have reopened, as you mentioned. But 12 per cent continue to be...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. The funding problems of the arts sector as a result of COVID continue, and I think that you agree with me that freelance workers are specifically under a great deal of pressure. You told the culture committee of the Senedd that the £7 million for freelance workers in the cultural sector wasn’t sufficient. And I’m sure you’ve seen the comprehensive...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. I note that you haven’t answered my question with regard to the freelance taskforce and their recommendations in the report—
Siân Gwenllian: May I turn to another issue, namely journalism? I’d like to know what discussions you have had with regard to the future of English-medium print journalism in Wales. Have you been discussing with Reach, for example? I’d like to know how the Government can provide support—at arm’s length of course, but support despite that—to the English-medium print industry.
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. We look forward to seeing that work coming to fruition, because I’m sure you’ll agree that the newspaper industry and having a prosperous sector is vital to public life and democracy in Wales. So, I’m pleased to hear what you say today on that. May I turn to one other area to conclude? Last Thursday, I believe it was, the Welsh Government announced a fund for...
Siân Gwenllian: 1. Will the Commission make a statement on the status of the Welsh language in the Senedd's work in light of the administrative court’s judgement in the case of Driver v. Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council? OQ55557
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. Yesterday, I had an opportunity to discuss this significant court judgment with the Counsel General. There are two significant aspects with regard to this judgment and the Welsh language, and one—the one that we were discussing yesterday—is the right to a Welsh education within a reasonable distance of the home. Now, I'm raising another matter that was part of that...
