Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: I am unable to answer questions that would take me into territory referring to the current Westminster election. I feel particularly unable to do this as, of course, being a mere peer of the realm, I am unable to vote in this election. But, I should also declare a personal interest or a neighbourhood interest, although not a financial interest, in Zip World and in the investments undertaken...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Well, as it happens, I have before me the two relevant reports: the one on the south-east Wales study of the Rhondda tunnel and, of course, the one that refers to the scoping study for the national cycle network using railway tunnels. The Abernant tunnel would provide a cross-Valley link between Aberdare and Merthyr; the Rhondda tunnel between the Afan and Rhondda Valleys; the Pennar tunnel...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much for that question. One of my priorities in supporting tourism—. I'm never sure which way to look. [Laughter.] I'm supposed to address the Dirprwy Lywydd, if you put up with my back, briefly, for this moment. One of my priorities is supporting tourism across Wales through marketing, capital development funding for new and existing tourism businesses and revenue funding...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I have no ambition myself to create more national institutions during my remaining period as a Minister, but I will indeed wait for the report, which will be forthcoming from the consultants. The feasibility study was commissioned by Elizabeth Oxborrow-Cowan Associates who are very skilled and knowledgeable in this field. Work has involved an options appraisal...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much, Janet. It's always a pleasure to reply to questions from my Assembly Member. A feasibility study that explores a number of potential models for a national archive for Wales has been undertaken. Publication of this study and next steps will take place after the United Kingdom general election period.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: This year, through Sport Wales, investment of £502,317 has been provided to Merthyr council and £1,378,900 to Caerphilly council to support them in developing sport and active recreation opportunities that meet local community needs. Organisations/clubs in Merthyr and Rhymney have also recently benefited from Sport Wales’s grant schemes.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: To conclude, I very much hope that this, today, is the beginning of this discussion. I look forward to working further with Paul Davies and other Assembly Members who clearly have interest and who have remained for today’s debate, to ensure that we do continue to commemorate and remember in an appropriate way those on whom our freedom depends.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: It was remiss of me not to mention Patti Flynn, a person for whom I have the highest personal regard. And, indeed, it's not only the importance of the commemoration of the war memorial to the black and ethnic communities that took such an active part in the defence of the United Kingdom and our communities at these difficult times, but it is also the importance for us, as a Government, in...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Yes, of course, Joyce.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: We have as many as 5,000 war memorials in Wales, and they take different forms—be they plaques or small cenotaphs. There are parks, there are hospitals and village halls that are also memorials and are part of what was invested by Welsh communities, with public support, to remember those lost from those communities in the first world war and the second world war, without forgetting, of...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much for this opportunity to respond to the debate, and thank you to Paul Davies for choosing this very timely subject to discuss here. The Assembly Commission, of course, is responsible for a notable memorial before this Senedd, and it's in that place that I'll be attending the merchant navy's service, because I continue to appreciate my post of being the honorary president of...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much for that, Nick. Raglan castle, as you know, is one of my favourite castles. I think it's in a very striking location, and its architecture is very striking. I think what we need to do in all these cases, first of all, is improve the access to these locations, especially when, as that castle is, close to a very fast-moving highway, so that people driving past will be able...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Well, thank you very much for that, Rhianon, and I appreciate your passion for placing Welsh music at the heart of the attractiveness of the country. And, in a sense, you have anticipated a future statement I hope to be making on establishing Creative Wales. Because I do believe that when we will have Creative Wales to sit alongside the Welsh arts council, and to sit alongside the particular...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: I thought we were getting on very well, David, until the end of your contribution, so I will come to that briefly. Thank you for your welcome for the themed approach and the understanding of that. I do pay tribute here to the thoughtful people who dream up these approaches. When I first saw the word 'epic' on the top of Pen y Gwryd I thought, 'This is a step too far', partly because it was in...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much, David. When we came to look at the regional approach of the Government and look at it in relation to the needs of tourism, I was very keen, as someone who had lived in mid Wales for over 20 years and still represents a very important part of it in Meirionnydd—. Mid Wales, by the way, is Meirionnydd, Ceredigion and Powys, just in case, for the avoidance of doubt. And I...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Well, that’s the etymology of the word. Now, I'm not responsible for what the UK Government does to promote what they describe as 'Great Britain' or for their historic misunderstanding as to the meaning of that phrase. But I will say this: it is clear to me that we need a better understanding of the nature of the UK as a multi-nation state in all material published for this unit of the...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you for that. I will deal, first of all, with the question of Grand Bretagne as compared to the lesser Bretagne, because, as people who know their cultural history and the history of nations know, 'Great Britain' is not some reference to grandeur, but that Britain or Ynys y Cedyrn, to use the term of the Mabinogion, is greater than Brittany, which is the lesser Bretagne, and that’s...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: I'm sure you have.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Which indicates clearly that we have the opportunity for long-distance hiking of the kind that you emphasised. I also agree with boutique hotels. We have a significant pipeline of hotels and we are continuing to make sure that in our tourism offer there are always—at the head of that offer, we're seeking to invest in increasing and developing the quality of our hotels throughout Wales.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: I'm very grateful for the enthusiasm displayed in the response by David Melding. I will agree that Conwy is probably one of the most frightening castles ever built. As you know, I am a citizen of the county of Conwy, but I have to tell you that this most frightening of castles is now blessed with the latest effort in tapestry inspired by Cefyn Burgess and school pupils from that part of the...
