The absence of such direction has led to inconsistency and complication. Direction is now needed urgently to avoid the further deterioration of the services on offer. This is not to say that the services themselves are the only things affected by the lack of an overarching strategy. The terms and conditions of staff within the sector vary greatly between authorities. This must also be addressed. Consistency in relation to staff terms and conditions would allow for a more collaborative approach to provision, enabling local authorities to co-ordinate services and share resources. Such a strategy could also be used to introduce performance measures and targets in order to ensure equitable standards across Wales. As such, while I am disappointed that this recommendation has been rejected, seemingly, I think, on the basis that our proposed plan did not have the word 'education' in the title, I am pleased that the thrust of the recommendation is being considered within the Cabinet Secretary’s feasibility study. 

However, the Cabinet Secretary put her name to the foreword of the music services' one-year-on report, so, I don't understand why, in her rejection of recommendation 2, the Cabinet Secretary has stated that she does not believe that she should take strategic responsibility for music services, as they fall outside of her portfolio. And, in any case, I think a lot of examples of Ministers taking a strategic lead on things that aren't entirely in their portfolio have already happened within Welsh Government. I know that she herself has made announcements with regard to the endowment and extra money for instruments. So, I think she's led by example in that regard.

It's clear in the report that we are talking about a plan for music education. So, I think the Cabinet Secretary's rejection of recommendations 2, 6, 8 and 12, which all relate to our proposed national action plan for music, is a tiny, tiny bit pernickety. I suggest that the recommendations have been taken out of context, but I'll be glad to hear what the Cabinet Secretary's analysis is, and I hope we can come to a progressive conclusion.

We have, of course, welcomed the Cabinet Secretary's announcement that each council is to receive an additional £10,000 for the purchasing of musical instruments. A lack of musical instruments was identified during our inquiry, as one issue among many larger issues. But I think each local authority has unique problems and we heard from local music services that we need to take into account current supply, pupil population and the level of deprivation. What Merthyr can do with £10,000 is significantly different to what Cardiff can do with that money.

We welcome the creation of Anthem, Music Fund Wales—a national endowment for music introduced by the Cabinet Secretary, backed by the £1 million Welsh Government investment. This is clearly a step in the right direction, and one that I hope will provide an effective part of a much needed solution to the current crisis, and I'm sure fellow committee members, like myself, will be taking a keen interest in this. 

Since the publication of our report, I'm pleased the Cabinet Secretary has opened a dialogue with me in order to discuss a way forward. And these conversations have been constructive in tone and I'd be encouraged to hear what the Cabinet Secretary has to say here today in relation to that. I do thank many stakeholders who have given the ideas in relation to how we can raise those concerns with the Cabinet Secretary.

I've also written to her officials directly, saying how I would like to see the £2 million of Welsh Government funding announced by the Government in the budget agreement with Plaid Cymru spent. I will not go into detail about that here today, but I would hope that the Cabinet Secretary, either today, or at some point in the near future, could give us some ideas as to her forward working proposals.