Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:53 pm on 23 January 2018.
I'm very grateful to Mike for providing us with lessons in public administration in a way that is so attractive and amusing to listen to, and that's supposed to be a compliment.
We are certainly aiming for financial stability and, indeed, Welsh Government has already indicated that we are looking to ensure proper financial capacity, which must include meeting the need for effective remuneration. I would say, as a matter of principle, I agree with a longer term target of aligning the level of remuneration in terms of the conditions of those who work for us in the museum sector and those who work for us in other parts of our public services. That's something that we need to address.
I'm very grateful to Gareth Bennett for his generous remarks, and I can assure him that there is no intention to pursue a model of charging adults and not charging younger citizens. We need to look at the family visitors to the museum as a whole unit.
With regard to names, the 'Welsh folk museum' always reminded me of something more folksy than even amgueddfa werin, although I do find, as I travel around that part of west Cardiff, that the brown signs take a bit of time catching up with the latest name. No doubt that will happen in the future.
Can I here publicly thank Julie Morgan for her role, which I've now learnt more fully about in ensuring improved Government relations and the relationship between this Assembly, through her PCS cross-party group, and the trade union side, and, indeed, the management of the museums when there were the difficulties to which we've all referred? It is indeed my wish, as much as hers, that we do not return there.
As I say, we are seeking to ensure a steady level of funding for the future, and I'm certain that the degree of support that has been exhibited in this debate today will strengthen our relationship with the museum.