3. Statement by the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport: The Future of Cadw

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:57 pm on 21 November 2017.

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Photo of Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas Independent 2:57, 21 November 2017

Thank you for your very kind remarks, and I remember with affection your period in Government, but I don't think it would be appropriate for me standing where I am today to refer back to that. But you have indeed understood the function of Cadw very clearly, and this is what we are seeking to ensure develops under our announcement and our proposals today. 

As regards recruitment, if Cadw is in Government, then clearly there will be an opportunity for people who are working within the public services to seek preferment and to seek career development within the organisation. But it will always be essential that the commercial, businesslike approach that we've outlined today is indeed the approach taken by the organisation. What I found in the years when I was involved with other forms of public sector management for the  wonderful, of course Conservative, Government of the 1990s is that it's essential, when you're dealing with institutions, that you have within Government, or at arm's length from Government or part arm's length from Government, people who are able to deal with business and deal with third sector institutions in a way that brings them on board as you develop change, and this is what we'll be seeking to do with Cadw.

Now, clearly, I'm not going to make any comments about how the recruitment structure is organised in detail, because although, as I say, Cadw remains within Government, it will have the flexibility within its development plans and its management structure to enable it to work in a commercial and businesslike way.