Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Amgueddfa Cymru, the National Museum, opens its doors freely at its seven sites throughout Wales. It leads the sector in reaching out and engaging with socially diverse audiences across Wales, and I am fully aware, having been schooled by Professor Gwyn Alf Williams, that everything of value in the industrial revolution and radical politics in Wales began in Merthyr. [Laughter.]
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: The Welsh Government acknowledges Captain Archibald Dickson’s rescue of over 2,000 republican refugees from Alicante harbour on 28 March 1939 and the lasting bond of goodwill that his heroic humanitarian act has created between the people of Alicante and Cardiff.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. This has been a debate that is beneficial for the Assembly as a whole, because it demonstrates that we can discuss a motion that has been signed by Members of all parties, and there will also be a free vote on the motion, with the exception, of course, that members of the Government will abstain—not because we disagree necessarily with anything...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: One could argue that the Romans are chiefly responsible for this crucial structure, as I understand things at least, because of the land reclaimed from the seas with fields, some of which are used to this day. And every time the sea would flood the area then there was an attempt to recolonise that area, and we've heard about much of this already, and that certainly happened in the eleventh...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: May I say one thing about this process, because this is the first time I’ve had the privilege of responding to a short debate and, indeed, to participate in a short debate? When we were putting in place the Standing Orders of this place, many years ago, we did believe that the short debate was a very important thing, because it isn’t a debate, in essence, but an opportunity for a Member...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much for that. I can confirm that the official who has been acting on my behalf in this area clearly understands the economic implications, because the head of sport is also involved in regional development—not exactly in the same area, but in south Wales. So, I will re-emphasise in further discussions, both with other officials in Government, and with him, and in my...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you, again, for that forceful expression. I made the comparison with Ireland precisely for the reasons you've been pursuing in that discussion. We need to have a serious look about what structure is required to make rugby in Wales, at whatever level—at the community level, at the youth level, at the women's level, which I obviously strongly encourage, but also at the international...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much for expressing that so forcefully, David. Certainly, it is our intention as a Government to ensure that any programmes that involve community engagement, any programme that develops women's rugby, under 20 rugby, youth rugby—all those commitments are commitments that have been made to us by the WRU, centrally, and it is the WRU, therefore, that is responsible at the...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: No, those were very much personal thoughts. Also, it's an obvious personal thought of mine that I would like to see professional rugby in the north of Wales, and have wished to see that happen for many years. I'm now having to be at arm's length from myself and that particular view, but that will be no surprise to you. But what I would say is that there has been no discussion, but there has...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much. You will have heard me replying succinctly, briefly, about our relationship in response to an earlier question, so I can confirm that I have had regular meetings with the Welsh Rugby Union and, indeed, have discussed with them their development plans and their business model, including regional restructuring. However, I would emphasise that it is not my intention in...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Well, no, because I think it's very important in this area that we look not only at broadcasting but at all the digital communications media. What's important for me is that the Welsh language and the English language in Wales appear on as many mediums as possible, and that includes social media and through the screens that people so regularly use. We shouldn't only be looking at...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Ofcom does have a Welsh representative on its central board. Ofcom also has a consultative committee representing Wales. I do hope that these issues will be discussed in the appropriate manner within those structures. As it happens, I have one of my regular meetings with Ofcom taking place over the next fortnight and I will certainly be listening in order to learn in more detail how Ofcom in...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: May I first of all answer the last part of the question? There has been no application for additional financial support made to the Welsh Government this year from the WRU. We have contributed the usual sum to the union, which is £880,000—I apologise, £853,000 this year. We have also contributed towards Conwy County Borough Council, where I happen to reside—I should perhaps declare an...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Visit Wales runs high-impact, integrated marketing campaigns featuring north Wales and its product strengths, e.g. north Wales figures prominently in this week’s St David’s Day and Wales Week activity. There is also, via competitive application, financial support given to partners to collaborate on projects to create their own promotional campaigns.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: I understand that the Member wishes to offer to organise barbecues in the Cwmcarn forest, and I am certain this would be very attractive to visitors.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: I will undertake to speak with Natural Resources Wales about the management of the Cwmcarn forest. But I have to emphasise that there are very exciting projects located near the Cwmcarn adventure hub, which is part of a £4.6 million Monmouthshire and Brecon canal adventure triangle, which is being promoted by Caerphilly County Borough Council, as well as Torfaen County Borough Council, and...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much for drawing attention to the essential importance of basic visitor infrastructure. I can confirm—and I don't need to tell you because you know—that both the environment around Cwmcarn and in particular, the Cwmcarn adventure hub, which I visited also recently, is an ideal location for all forms of outdoor activities, and Caerphilly, as a local authority, is very...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you, Rhianon. Our tourism strategy sets out our priorities to support the tourism industry across Wales, including the south-east region. This includes marketing campaigns in the UK and overseas, and capital development funding for new and existing tourism businesses, along with revenue funding for regional projects.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Well, we are now increasingly working across Government and with local government in the promotion of all forms of physical activity, and I will certainly remind the local authorities through the relations with us directly within the group that's been studying this issue that there is no point in having a scheme that is not taken up because of a failure to promote. And, therefore, in the...
