The next item on the agenda is a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure on the independent review of support for publishing and literature in Wales, and I call on Ken Skates to introduce the statement.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. In May 2015, I announced a review of support for publishing and literature in Wales, chaired by Professor Medwin Hughes. This is the first time that an independent review has considered the Welsh Government’s overall support for publishing and literature. A review of support for books from Wales was commissioned in 2014, but no independent panel has previously been commissioned to consider this area in its entirety. I am grateful to the members of the review panel for their professionalism and hard work. The panel’s report will be available on the Welsh Government’s website this afternoon.

I asked the panel to assess the main aims of the Welsh Government in supporting the publishing industry and literature in Wales, in both languages. What are we seeking to achieve, culturally, socially and economically? Are these aims still fit for purpose in the twenty-first century? I asked them to look at the scale and remit of the support currently given, including the relationship between the bodies responsible for delivering this support. They were also asked to consider the impact of digital developments within the publishing industry, and to assess the administrative arrangements for our support of a Welsh language daily online news service, as well as the ‘papurau bro’. Finally, the panel were to consider support for publishing and literature in disadvantaged areas across Wales.

In carrying out this analysis, the panel were, of course, mindful of the Welsh Government’s broader strategic priorities as set out in ‘Taking Wales Forward’ and our legal duties to the people of Wales, including the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. There have been huge changes in the way in which both written and audio-visual material is published and consumed. This review, therefore, provided the opportunity to reconsider the nature of the current infrastructure support in the context of the changing dynamics within publishing. Such changes range from the creative ways in which writers practice and engage in their craft, the digital developments for publishing and the ever-expanding opportunities for readers to engage with literature, be that through live events or other formats.

There are likely to be further huge changes over the next five to 10 years. Therefore, in producing its recommendations, the panel focused on the need for support structures that will not only be appropriate for 2017, but will be adaptable enough to respond to further evolution in the sector, remaining relevant and being able to identify new opportunities for publishing and literature across Wales.

It has taken some time for this report to be finalised. Rightly taking an evidence-based approach, the panel invited key stakeholders to present on the current infrastructure and support in Wales. These discussions were often passionate, and clearly demonstrated the level of professional interest in the subject. The public were also invited to contribute via a bilingual online questionnaire. The unexpectedly large but welcome response clearly showed the importance that people attach to our rich literary tradition and the contemporary vibrancy of the published word in Wales. Given the significant amount of evidence submitted, it became apparent that additional time was required to allow the panel to consider it in detail.

The final report explains the literary and publishing ecosystem in Wales, from writer to reader, placing it in the context of the Welsh Government’s priorities for culture and the creative industries, and the contribution made by literature and publishing. It considers the issues faced in both Welsh and English language publishing and describes the publishing process itself, explaining the support currently available. It sets out the roles of the Welsh Books Council, the Arts Council of Wales, Literature Wales and various functions of Welsh Government, including education, the major events unit, the Welsh language division and creative industries.

The report summarises the evidence received from the key stakeholder organisations, from the industry itself, and from the public. It explains the panel’s response to that evidence, leading to its conclusions and recommendations. There is not time for me to discuss this in any detail, but I can say that the panel recognised significant good practice and effective support that should be continued and built upon in the future.

It identified areas where support needs to evolve to meet the challenging needs in a digital age. It also found clear evidence of real problems in some areas, related to strategic planning, priority setting, governance, risk management, spending, and in ensuring that activities are effective in delivering the outcomes we need. Broadly, I accept the panel’s conclusions and agree that action is needed.

The panel makes a strong case for the Welsh Government to continue to provide appropriate financial support, based upon valuing our renowned bilingual literary tradition, enabling it to thrive in the twenty-first century, ensuring its global reach, and supporting access and participation right across Wales. It also makes the case for a strong, innovative publishing industry that provides high-quality jobs, competes internationally, and allows professional writers of all backgrounds to develop career pathways in Wales.

This support should be for publishing and literature in both Welsh and English, in print and in digital. However, digital provision and strategy by the supporting organisations need to be significantly improved. The panel sets out a series of recommendations. Some of these are for the Welsh Government, others are for the industry and the key delivery organisations. We will provide a formal response in due course, but I will explain some of the main strategic and structural recommendations. Given the significant weight and compelling nature of the evidence received, I am minded to accept these and will work with the relevant organisations to implement them.

The Welsh Government should seek agreement from the Welsh Books Council that it will take on some of Literature Wales’s current functions, including: book of the year, aiming to increase its commercial impact; bursaries; literary events and writers on tour; and provision for children and young people. This would require a transfer of appropriate Welsh Government funding from the Arts Council of Wales to the Welsh Books Council, for these purposes.

The following would then need to be considered by the Welsh Books Council: a change of title to reflect additional responsibilities; appropriate presence at a regional level across Wales; a clear and focused digital strategy; a clear strategy to promote inclusion across Wales, building on its existing child poverty strategy; and a talent development strategy. These changes would need to be reflected in a revised grant award letter to the books council and a revised remit letter to the arts council. Following these changes, responsibility for Tŷ Newydd writing centre and the delivery of other cultural events and festivals would remain with the arts council and Literature Wales.

I realise that some people may be surprised at the extent of the changes. I should stress that they are in response to specific needs in a specific area of activity. They are not a reflection on the wider work of the arts council and my appreciation of the good work that Literature Wales has delivered in some areas; for example, the excellent delivery of major events and activities linked to our themed years—this will remain unchanged. However, I am persuaded that these steps are needed to create a support structure for publishing and literature that is more effective and fit for purpose.

The Llywydd took the Chair.

As Professor Hughes himself said, at the core of this review is the opportunity to celebrate Wales and the creative power of literature to describe, interpret and celebrate our identity. That creative power is of great value, both on a national and international stage. The proposed changes will allow the excellent organisations that underpin our current infrastructure to excel in the areas where they can achieve the most impact in this fast-changing environment, thus enhancing the creative talents of our writers and supporting a dynamic publishing infrastructure for our country.

Thank you very much, Cabinet Secretary, for the statement today. I think this review was long overdue. I’m quite pleased to see it was broader than I actually anticipated originally. So, I do thank you for that. My first question was going to be ‘When can we expect to see the report?’ but I can see that it did arrive within an hour of Plenary. Being 200 pages long, I hope you will give us the same courtesy as you extended to the group, in order for us to read it thoroughly and scrutinise you more thoroughly on it, in due course, to use their words. I must admit I was watching the website for a while and it’s still not there, if you want to pass that on to officials. I am very pleased to hear that there was a good response to the consultation. I would have liked to hear a little bit more about what that said on good practice, but I appreciate that this is a statement today and you’ll probably hear from me again on that one.

Assembly Members, I don’t think, were approached during this consultation and our attention wasn’t particularly drawn to it. I hope this isn’t just me, but I must admit I didn’t know an awful lot about it until I went looking on the internet for this and only came across a rather unhelpful media piece about a potential conflict of interest, which I know that you’ve responded to. But, in particular, I was a little bit worried when you said in your statement that a questionnaire was the main way of getting hold of people to respond to this. I don’t even know where that questionnaire was. Perhaps you can just fill me in on that. But, actually, if it had a very, very strong public response, and maybe from bodies such as libraries, rather than publishers and stakeholders that you’d expect to respond to this, I’d be very interested to know how they were reached, because that’s a question that affects us all as Assembly Members in trying to get information from but also information out to members of the wider public of Wales that we would normally struggle to do. If there’s new information there about innovative ways of reaching the public, then I would really like to hear about that, particularly if it secured responses from a good geographical balance of members of the public and a good response from people from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

With regard to support and impact, I think these go hand in hand, and I’d be quite interested to know what you mean by ‘support’. You mentioned it a couple of times in your statement. Certainly, from the committee that I’m a member of, we’d be extremely interested to hear about support for digital promotion of news in I think what we’d have to accept is a non-pluralistic media landscape in Wales. I think that’s something we’d all be very interested in. However, if we’re going to be dashing down a digital route, and I can understand the impetus to do that, I think we need a good sense of what success looks like at the moment with the organisations who are currently involved in the review, and, in books, just to take a simple example, whether there’s been a particularly good success rate in the Welsh Books Council or publishers getting take-up on Kindle and other e-readers, or what’s the situation with audio books, for example, because not all books are reading books after all? Because, actually, the impact that concerns me most is the impact on the end user. Obviously, I have a deep interest in what happens to the organisations involved in that, but if we don’t end up with more people reading or more people consuming whatever the written word is, whichever format it’s in, there’s a question for, obviously, Welsh Government, but for us all generally, about what success is going to look like at the end of this.

You mentioned in your statement

‘ensuring…global reach and supporting access and participation across Wales.’

I would be keen to know what our global reach is at the moment, what it looks like now and what it could look like realistically as well, because, again, if Welsh Government, with our support, is going to invest in any of the ideas brought forward in the review—and I appreciate that I haven’t read them yet—we want to know what you expect as the end result of that investment, at least in some sort of sense.

Just a couple of specifics so that I leave questions for others: the new school curriculum. Now, obviously, we’re going to need an immense amount of resource for the new school curriculum. Is there any intention either to bring resources from your budget into the education budget to help fund both written and digital resources, or is it going to go the other way and actually a responsibility will be given to the Welsh Books Council and the other people involved in this to provide those resources with money from a different budget? I can see the education Cabinet Secretary looking very worried at that prospect.

And then, finally, you say the evidence was compelling. Obviously, I haven’t had a chance to test that myself yet. I note there’s a suggestion, or a recommendation, that a number of responsibilities move to the Welsh Books Council from Literature Wales. I make no comment on that, but I’d be very curious if you’re able to encapsulate in a few words why the recommendation didn’t go the other way and actually Welsh Books Council responsibilities transferred to Literature Wales, just as an example. Thank you.

Can I thank Suzy Davies for her questions and for her contribution? Granted, this is an extensive publication. Approximately half of the 200 pages provide the evidence that has informed the recommendations, and it’s worth stating at the outset that the response to the consultation was actually one of the most successful that’s ever been conducted. Something in the region of 820 organisations and individuals responded to the online questionnaire. In fact, if we compare to some other consultations that have taken place in recent times—let’s think primarily about transport—the consultation that took place into the new franchise for the Wales and borders network attracted something in the region of 120 responses. So, this attracted approximately six times that number. It was quite unprecedented and is the reason why it took longer than anticipated for the panel to process and then to respond to. It is a heavily evidence-based approach that they have taken, and that is the reason why the recommendations in terms of the transfer of responsibilities have been taken.

I would hope that, during the course of this afternoon and this evening, when the Member gets an opportunity to review the recommendations and the evidence, she’ll agree that it is based on the opinion and experience of organisations, stakeholders and the wider public who have a very keen interest in the publishing sector, and that bold change is suggested in some areas, but so, too, there is recognition that each of the organisations that are responsible for supporting publishing and writing in Wales do exemplary work. What I’m keen to ensure is that they’re able to excel in their respective areas, and that where functions need to be transferred, they are transferred in such a way that they improve as well.

I would be happy to meet with any Assembly Members concerning this review, especially any Assembly Members that feel that they haven’t been able to make a direct input into the consultation that took place. Likewise, I’m very keen to meet with the three national bodies that the review primarily concerns at the earliest opportunity—the arts council, the books council and Literature Wales—to discuss in a collegiate fashion how recommendations can be taken forward and, indeed, to hear of any concerns that any of those organisations have about the panel’s recommendations.

In terms of what success looks like, well, this is largely captured within the panel’s review. In terms of the numbers of books published, largely, figures for the number of books published in any series or for any publication, numbers are not captured or at least not published. However, we do capture the numbers of books borrowed from public libraries and also the number of e-books and e-magazines that are also borrowed or are also viewed. Now, I can say that we’re in a pretty strong position in Wales insofar as the public library network and book borrowing are concerned. It’s being driven in no small part by the Every Child a Library Member initiative, and also by the Summer Reading Challenge, which is highlighted as a major success story for the Welsh Books Council. But, equally, it’s driven by inspiring events that have taken place, and some major events that have been facilitated by Literature Wales, and I think primarily in the past 12 months the celebration of Roald Dahl’s work. As a consequence of that, we’ve seen the number of books read and the number of books borrowed in Wales remain in healthy shape.

Internationally, a good deal of activity has traditionally taken place and been taken forward by Wales Arts International, and also through the Wales Literature Exchange. Having reviewed a significant body of the evidence that is provided in the report, it is my view that the literature exchange is a highly valued method of ensuring that international operations bring benefits to Welsh writers, to Welsh publishers and to Welsh culture as a whole, but there is a specific recommendation within the report which is relevant to Welsh Government, and that concerns the overseas business visits support. I think, in terms of ensuring that publishers have access to strong business advice and also access to international markets, there is an opportunity, I think, through trade missions and other support services, to enhance the offer that publishers have to an international audience.

In terms of the curriculum, there is a specific recommendation concerning the curriculum, again, for Welsh Government, of course, but that is simply that it is vital that publishing and literature are considered in the development of the new curriculum, and, for that reason, I am keen to be meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for education and skills. I can’t guarantee that my chequebook will be open with a pen hanging over it at the point of our meeting, but we will be having discussions concerning publishing and literature in Wales, and how it can contribute to the education of people, young and old. And I think I’ve already highlighted the reason why the report largely focuses on a transfer of responsibilities from Literature Wales to the Welsh Books Council, but I would like to state again and put on record that the report and, indeed, many of the people who responded to the consultation deeply value the work of Literature Wales and the Welsh Books Council.

May I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his comprehensive statement on this independent review of support for publishing and literature in Wales? Our challenge as politicians in this place is to scrutinise what this report says, as well as what you’ve said about the report, and there is a significant challenge in that scrutiny because the report is 212 pages long and it only appeared on our computer system about two hours ago. So, with all due respect, I haven’t had an opportunity to read every word of those 212 pages yet, but that isn’t going to stop me from asking questions, I have to say.

There are a number of things here to be welcomed, and one of those things is that this is a vitally important subject. As the report says, and you quote in your final paragraph, this report is an opportunity

‘to celebrate Wales—the creative power of literature to describe, interpret and celebrate our identity. That creative power is of great value, both on a national and international stage.’

So, taking that seriously, we also have to take this particular subject seriously because, naturally, the landscape, in terms of literature and publishing, has changed significantly over the past few years. There are a number of different platforms, digital and so on, as we’ve already heard. Instead of going to the local bookshop or the library, something called ‘Amazon’ has also arisen and people buy their books from there, most often, these days. And there’s this whole business of working, if we want to work with platforms such as Amazon, which provide the majority of the books that reach our homes, these days. We also need to note, to Amazon, that we need more provision via the Welsh language in what they provide. I note in passing, if I remember rightly, that Lolfa, the publisher, has some kind of arrangement with Amazon, but the Welsh language provision is quite scant. There is that challenge with the changing landscape and it’s constantly changing.

With the public funding that is allocated, as you note, there are successes, especially with our ‘papurau bro’—these local papers that do engender interest and disseminate information to our local communities. I think of the ‘papur bro’ in Swansea, ‘Wilia’, and there’s one in Lampeter, ‘Clonc’. We might as well point to that as well, because it’s not every day that we do share the titles of our ‘papurau bro’ in the Chamber, but they have been hugely successful over the years. Of course, we are looking for a continuation of the support for those initiatives and a continuation of their success. And as we are talking about publishing and literature in Wales, I think it is a matter to be welcomed that there are more responsibilities being transferred to the Welsh Books Council. But of course, as you say, there will need to be some changes, remembering the changing landscape in terms of digital and so on.

In terms of why some changes have to take place, as you’ve noted already, there are structural changes that are going to take place between the Arts Council of Wales, Literature Wales and the Welsh Books Council, as you’ve noted.

I would like to know the timetable for that and how you are going to administer those changes, as Cabinet Secretary. But in the paragraph at the end of the second page out of four, you do note that the review has found clear evidence of genuine problems in some areas relating to setting priorities, governance, risk management, expenditure, and so on and so forth. That list goes on. So, if we’re going to have a statement on a review that the rest of us haven’t had an opportunity to read, then I would like to know more and to have more information and more detail about what exactly these problems are in structural planning, setting priorities, governance, risk management and so on and so forth, as you’ve gone into some detail with regard to describing the problem, but you haven’t given too much detail about what exactly the problem is. So, there is a challenge there, of course.

Perhaps the Cabinet Secretary will be aware that the culture committee—Suzy Davies has already mentioned this—are undertaking a review on news journalism at present and the way that communication happens in this digital age. It is a cross-cutting review with what’s happening with the culture committee, which is undertaking this current reviews, so perhaps we do need to refer to the work that is already being done in this place.

But, ultimately, as there are so many details that we haven’t had an opportunity to scrutinise, I would like to ask, on the basis of this statement today—that’s all well and good, you’ve answered questions—but I would ask for a full debate in Government time as well. Thank you.

Can I thank Dai Lloyd for his questions and his contribution? Given that this is an extensive report and many Members have not had an opportunity today to read it in full yet or to absorb the detail, I’d be more than happy to bring forward a debate in Government time to examine this report in more detail. Scrutiny of the report will also include further discussions with the national bodies and organisations to whom it is most applicable.

I’ll run through some of the general points and then the more specific points that the Member raised. In terms of wholesale challenges, the report does make recommendations for the Welsh Books Council to develop proposals to alleviate the current impact of wholesale book sales and also to accommodate future likely trends. I think this is absolutely essential if we are to maintain, particularly on high streets in rural areas, the presence of small independent bookshops.

The panel recognised the great success story of ‘papurau bro’ and recommended that it should be retained as a Welsh Government responsibility, given the various examples that the Member has already outlined and the evidence that was provided by members of the public and stakeholders. It’s quite clear that the current arrangements are fit for purpose and should not be changed.

I do hope that all three organisations will be able to respond constructively to the report in the coming weeks. I am also hopeful, as I said to Suzy Davies, to meet with all three together, collectively, to discuss how we can take forward the recommendations. The steps that the report sets out are designed primarily to ensure three things. One is to foster excellence where it’s already embedded. Secondly, to allow all of our supporting organisations to focus on what they do best. And then thirdly, to ensure that activities that are currently not being delivered to the best that we could expect are moved to the best place for them to be delivered effectively for publishers, for writers and for readers.

There is detail about the challenges that the Member has asked about within the report. They are quite extensive, and along with the challenges that we currently face, there are clear recommendations on how they can be overcome. And, again, they’re detailed in the report. I should also add that one recommendation that is made by the panel is to conduct a further review, in five years’ time, and I think that would be valuable, given the fast-changing nature of the sector and the need to ensure that the sector itself receives appropriate support from Government, but also that writers, publishers and readers are receiving appropriate support from the national organisations. So, I’d be happy to say that in five years’ time I think that it should be subject to a further review.

Cabinet Secretary, you said that the outset that this is a fast-changing environment that has been vulnerable to a degree of disruption in recent years. The report decides that the Welsh Books Council is the best body—best place—to lead up through this uncertain terrain, but it also says that the Welsh Books Council needs to develop different levels of risk appetite, it needs to develop robust digital strategy, and an increased digital engagement, but it also says that the Welsh Books Council needs to review the nature and capacity of the executive and governance arrangements. Now, taken together, this does seem to me a fairly profound retrofitting of the Welsh Books Council. Given that its reputation is not as the most dynamic of organisations, is the culture Secretary confident that the culture is there within the organisation, given the weaknesses the panel identifies, to be able to carry out the tasks we need it to do?

Can I thank Lee Waters for his question? So, these are not insignificant challenges that are being presented to the Welsh Books Council, but if they are met, they could deliver enormous benefits for the publishing sector and for writers. I think it’s fair to say that many recommendations that are outlined by the panel concerning the Welsh Books Council relate to the need to innovate more to build on commercial acumen within the organisation and make sure that there is the correct appetite for risk, and also to ensure that the Welsh Books Council has a presence right across Wales, and is dynamic in a changing environment.

I think in terms of the organisation itself and its ability to respond to some of the recommendations and what could be additional responsibilities, clearly, there are recommendations concerning the executive and the board, which I think would, if adopted, ensure that the organisation is able to adapt to increases in its responsibility levels, and doing so would then lead to an improvement of service delivery.

Thanks to the Minister for the panel’s report—sorry, for your statement today, and the report, as you said, is a long one, so I’m not sure I look forward that much to reading all of it, but I’m sure we can look at the salient points and discuss them later on.

It’s encouraging that—[Interruption.] It’s encouraging that the stakeholders did deliver such a strong response. Now, you’ve identified yourself that one of the major changes, perhaps the biggest change, is the move from the printed page to digital publishing. Now, there are some structural changes proposed: are you confident that this will help to deliver that change to digital successfully and will safeguard publishing jobs in Wales? And could you give a little bit more detail on why you think that these changes are going to be positive ones? Although the medium has changed, is changing, the readership to some extent remains the same. You still need people to be wanting to read books and other materials, so we need to be fostering a love of reading among the young. So, I wondered how much of an onus there will in future on developing this, and how does the panel’s report address this? If you could explain those things, perhaps, in abbreviated terms, that would be good. Thank you.

Sure. In terms of the publication itself, it is exhaustive, but it’s also very detailed and provides a very thorough analysis of publishing and literature in Wales. The change that the Member refers to in terms of digital is captured in a number of sections, and there are recommendations, not just for Welsh Government and the Welsh Books Council, but for a whole number of organisations, and for the publishing sector as a whole to embrace. I think, if that change can take place, if the recommendations for all organisations and the sector as a whole can be implemented in terms of digital transformation, then we will see a step change. What is very clear, not just from the recommendations and the panel review, but also from the evidence that’s been submitted as part of the consultation, is that the digital market needs to be embraced fully. Whilst we do have a great tradition in writing and in publishing in Wales, we are yet to catch up with some of those markets and some of those countries that are at the very forefront of e-books and digital exploitation. But, as I say, there are a number of recommendations for all organisations, and I think, in order to gain maximum benefit from digital opportunities, those recommendations will have to be considered as a whole, not just individually.

In terms of children and how we ensure more children are reading more of the time, there are a number of very, very successful initiatives that are operated, not just by the Welsh Books Council and by Literature Wales, but also by Welsh Government. I’ve already noted a number of them, including the summer reading challenge and the every child a library member scheme, and, of course, there are the added benefits of getting more young people reading, which include more parents then becoming readers more of the time. I think this has great benefit in terms of adults gaining greater skills for employment.

I mentioned in the statement that I made that the Welsh Books Council will need to examine, in terms of inclusion—and this relates to the promotion of books to young people. It will need to reflect on its current strategies and its current policies, and enhance, in terms of inclusion, its presence around Wales in order to ensure that its work, and the work of publishers and the work of writers are promoted and taken to all communities in Wales.

I think this is incredibly exciting for the sector. It’s exciting for writers, and if the recommendations, clearly after further scrutiny, can be implemented, then I think we can see an even greater number of people taking up reading and also taking up writing.

I want to concentrate on the literature part of your statement, and in particular that great source of innovation and entrepreneurship, and I’m talking about the small independent bookshop. Now, this sector has been cut back over the years as the likes of Amazon have come on, but those that survive are outstanding businesses, with great connections to the local community, involved in all sorts of events. Can I here commend Griffin Books in Penarth for the literary lectures they run, the events for children and young people to promote interest in books and also for the Penarth Literature Festival? It’s an outstanding programme that is run from this one independent bookshop. I might invite you, indeed, in July—your former colleague Huw Lewis will be taking part in the Penarth Literature Festival, when we’ll be talking about his childhood memoir, about being brought up in Aberfan. So, there are outstanding events.

I would also say that serendipity plays a great part in literature, just going in, talking to people who are very knowledgeable about a subject and looking at the shelves. The great thing about a smaller bookshop is the wonderful selection that has usually been made by the people running that shop. That, I think, is always a rich source to draw on and you have access to some of the finest literature out there. So, I do hope the new structures will ensure that that sector continues to get support and that that’s even increased for the likes of literary events.

Can I, in the same breath, commend the role of micropublishers that I know many of us have followed, including Lee Waters there, in publishing some highly innovative literature that then becomes mainstream, but not at first? In particular, poetry is often reliant on these much smaller publishers, and, of course, they are now also benefiting from the digital age. We’ve heard some of that, but, again, some targeted resources there to enable those platforms to develop will continue to support the wonderful, rich literary heritage we have in Wales.

Can I thank David Melding for his contribution? If my diary allows, I’d very much like to take up the invitation in July.

Something in the region of 1,000 people in Wales are employed in bookshops and by publishers. This is a significant number, but, as I said earlier, it’s of greater significance to some of those rural communities that really do depend on a vibrant town centre or town high street, and based on, in turn, a vibrant and mixed economy. Bookshops are incredibly important. I go to places like Hay-on-Wye or, indeed, to towns closer to where I live, such as Mold, and those independent bookshops are absolutely crucial in adding value to the cultural and retail offer of town centres. The review does make recommendations primarily focused on what the Welsh Books Council can do to support the publishing sector and independent bookstores to rise to the challenge of wholesale threats, but also to become more innovative and more distinctive in the offer. It’s not just about taking the established approach of diversifying what you offer, although that can be successful. Again, in some towns, there are independent bookstores that have cafes, and it can work in some areas, but it goes beyond that; it’s about embracing innovation in terms of how you offer a service that is bespoke and truly independent. As we look, across Government, at the changing face and nature of the working environment and changes in terms of retail and the high street, I think it’s important that we support—through not just the Welsh Books Council, but other organisations and bodies, such as Business Wales—local independent bookshops to become vibrant not just in the daytime but also potentially in the evening as well. We’re trying to encourage right now the night-time economy in our high streets, and I think bookshops, as well as other retailers, can offer a distinctive evening opportunity for people to gather, for people to learn and for people to purchase. This was established in the United States many, many years ago, but it was driven largely by the multinationals who offered a coffee shop in every one of their huge gargantuan bookstores, but, thankfully, local independent bookstores in the United States responded, they competed, and, as a consequence, many are thriving. I’d like to see the same in Wales.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary.