Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: There's £500 million for the restarting film and television productions scheme, which is vital. And because I was once in the role that the Deputy Presiding Officer currently holds, I will be quiet. Thank you very much.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. First of all, I will make a commitment to all of you who have taken part in the debate and have raised a great number of points that we will respond in writing in an appropriate fashion, rather than I go over my time—I think I have five minutes to respond to this debate—if that's acceptable to you, and then we can continue that discussion....
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Well I'm sorry you choose to try to turn this reasonable discussion about tourism into a discussion of relationships between the English and the Welsh because this is not the issue. It's not about nationalities within the United Kingdom; it is about public health, and we have to concentrate on that. I have spent a lot of time and energy during this pandemic in trying to ensure that people do...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Well, I'm pleased to say that I have been able to walk in the area that Huw describes, and it is indeed extremely attractive. I find the Garw valley irresistible, because it's so different, and yet has a landscape that I'm familiar with in mid Wales and in north Wales. I think the key thing here is the co-operation between communities, between local authorities and their tourism officers with...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Attractions and events are separate important strands in the tourist economy and should be seen as such. As it happens, I was in conversation, as I am most weeks, with a neighbour of mine who I don't see in the flesh anymore, because obviously I'm unable to travel—this is Sean Taylor, he of Zip World and other developments—and we were discussing this very issue. What we are very keen to...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: You're quite right, of course, in emphasising the importance to the tourism sector of incoming visitors, both day visitors and visitors who come and stay for three or more nights, making a substantial contribution during a period of economic activity. You're quite right to emphasise the close relationship between the major population centres of the north-west and the south-west, and indeed,...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Is that better?
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much. I do apologise for that.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you for your question, Gareth. We undertake regular and extensive research into tourism and that, obviously, during the period of the pandemic, has included research programmes on the impact of the pandemic on tourism industries. The centrepiece of my activity is a regular weekly meeting with representatives of the tourism industry throughout Wales and Welsh local government and...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: I haven't been able to refer to everything, but we will have a look at the Record, and I will be in touch with any Members that I haven't referred to already. So, thank you for the opportunity to celebrate the light of the arts in the darkness that we are currently in because of the pandemic. Thank you very much.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you, Jenny Rathbone, for your references to David Stacey and the great legacy of Sherman Theatre and also your support for Rubicon Dance, with which I have strong connections. I was pleased to be able to visit the Roath library building and I hope that what is a central building, really, in the middle of Cardiff, and has great architectural value—I very much hope that there can be...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much, Llyr, for addressing the issues around the planning system. We are very eager as a Government to see how we can use the planning system in order to safeguard historic buildings. 'Planning Policy Wales' already sets out how music and arts venues can be supported as part of regeneration, and we are aware also that it's important that the class use order does allow some...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Laura Anne Jones discussed the future potential of a military medical museum in Wales. Of course, we already have a small military museum, the Firing Line, which I was associated with years ago, and I think it is important that we realise that these developments will be private developments—they're not part our national museum system—and therefore I doubt very much whether we will be...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you, I'm doing that now. Can you hear me now?
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Okay, thank you very much. I'd like to thank Plaid Cymru for bringing this motion forward, which has given us an opportunity to have such a varied and valuable debate. I think this is the most comprehensive debate on culture and the arts that we've had during my period in this role. I will seek to respond to some of the points made by everyone who contributed if I have enough time. I think I...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Formally, thank you.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you for that very positive question. It's extremely important that we recognise the value to Wales's tourism of visits from within Wales, as well as within our neighbouring countries, especially from over the border from England, as well as from Ireland. And I hope that the activities at Gwrych castle and the television support that will be provided for that in terms of marketing, and...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: I am unable to answer the final part of that question. [Laughter.] But, no, I don't intend to participate, I don't think, and I wouldn't be allowed to as Minister for tourism. I couldn't pretend to be part of a tourist activity myself. But I do know Gwrych Castle, obviously, because I was brought up in the county of Conwy, and I am delighted with the very strong support that is being made...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Yes, thank you very much, Darren. The support that we've given to the tourism industry in north Wales is the most generous in the United Kingdom, especially through the economic resilience fund. Tourism businesses in Wales as a whole benefited over £27 million from the first two phases of the economic resilience fund, of which £8 million pounds was spent in north Wales.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Well, this is a key part of the tourism relationship, of the visitor and host relationship, and people in the countryside clearly have to be positive in their welcome and reception of visitors, but visitors and walkers particularly have to have an understanding of the nature of the countryside communities, and of the misunderstanding very often of the relationship between rights of way,...
