It's a great pleasure to take part in this very important debate. The first thing I want to say, really, is that I'm glad that this is getting us talking about National Museum Wales as I think it's of huge importance to us as a nation because we need to tell our story to our children here in Wales as well as to visitors who come here. And I agree that Wales should be telling its story to the world of how a small nation has had such a massive impact, particularly in terms of the industrial revolution.

This report by Simon Thurley does recognise National Museum Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru, as one of the jewels in the crown of the museums in the UK, and I'm particularly pleased that it praises the expertise and knowledge of the staff who work there. Because I think all our experience of the staff, and particularly the front-line staff, the people who welcome you when you go there, and the skills of the craftspeople, the people who split the slates, and all the craftspeople at St Fagans—I think it is absolutely great that they are acknowledged. The report also praises the rise in visitor numbers to the national museum in Cardiff, which were up 34 per cent between 2010 and 2015, to nearly 0.5 million a year.

Obviously, in terms of the commercial viability, it's obvious that the report is concentrating a lot of its emphasis on that, and some of his recommendations do make sense to me, such as asking visitors for donations. A donation of 20p per head is not unaffordable, and the report says that this has raised £300,000 a year. I see no problems at all in asking for small donations, and obviously other museums are sometimes much more forthright in asking for money. I don't see a problem with charging for special exhibitions, and I think it would be acceptable to have a member scheme, which would also help to raise funds. I think these options should be investigated, but I think it is absolutely essential that we keep free access. I think it's one of the great achievements of this Assembly, of the Welsh Government, that there is free access so that everybody, whatever their means, can benefit from the museums. And I believe that this huge rise in numbers is directly linked to the openness of the museum—the fact that people can go there and don't have to worry about paying. So, I don't think there should be any barrier, and I don't support Gareth Bennett's proposal of £1 to go in. I think it must be free.

I wanted to go on now about the relationship in the museum. I think this is pivotal moment. This is an opportunity to improve the relationship between the unions and the management. The report is correct in saying that there have been well-publicised difficulties with the staff and management relationship, and as chair of the Public and Commercial Services Union cross-party group, I am very well aware of all these difficulties. This report does look back at some of those problems, but what it doesn't say is that the reason for the problems was that the museums were seeking to slash staff wages for the lowest paid, whilst senior management pay was being increased. During this difficult time, the PCS actually balloted their members four times, and I, along with other members from this Assembly, were there speaking at rallies in support of the staff, and I think it's important to say that a resolution to this dispute was actually helped and brokered by the Welsh Government. So, I think it's important that there—. Although I support the idea of the independence of the bodies, when they can't manage things properly, I think it is very important that we are able to turn to the Welsh Government.

I just want to say about some of the things that are problems at the museum. There are the zero-hours contracts that Mike Hedges already mentioned. It's not acceptable to have these zero-hours contracts, and, certainly, there should be a formal agreement on how they are used, if they have to be there at all. I think that the use of fixed-term contracts should be limited. This is a real opportunity now, on the basis of this report, to restore good relations in the museum, because I think we all feel that the staff are the key to the success of the museum, and surely their terms and conditions and pay should be in line with Welsh Government departments. Certainly, there should be time off for trade union work.

I'm very pleased that the Minister said the points of view of staff are vital. He also mentioned that, perhaps, some museums would close for certain periods of the year. Well, obviously, that will make the members of staff who work permanently in those museums for all the hours in the year—their hearts are going to sink when they read that. So, I think these issues have to be taken into consideration when proposals are made about how this is going to affect staff, and make sure they're part of the dialogue, so that there are good relationships. 

So, I think that this is a great opportunity to try and start off on a new foot. Let's recognise the huge contribution that staff are making, and make sure that they're part of this dialogue.