Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:51 pm on 29 January 2019.
Thank you very much for raising both of these issues and, certainly, grass-roots music venues are a crucial part of our talent pipeline here in Wales in terms of the music industry. I think Le Public Space is a perfect example of how these businesses can not only adapt but also thrive as well in quite challenging circumstances. But also, it really contributes to the cultural life of our urban areas as well in giving Welsh talent their first opportunity to access their first audiences. So, we've really identified the value of grass-roots music venues to the cultural life of Wales.
Creative industries officials are commissioning a mapping exercise of grass-roots music venues across Wales, and that research study will provide a geographical map of these venues across the whole of the country, identifying clusters, for example. They'll consider their viability in terms of transport, access and audience, and consider the role in the night-time economy in the areas as well, and make some recommendations for potential interventions or improvements that Welsh Government can make. I know that Le Public Space will be one of those venues that will be looked at.
With regard to the report that has been launched today by Usdaw, and thank you very much for allowing this to happen here in the Assembly through your sponsorship of it, I'd like to pay tribute to the work that Usdaw does in terms of being a really strong voice for its members. I think that this report is particularly hard hitting. It tells us the impact that low pay has on people, unsteady jobs have on people and unfair contracts have on people. So, in terms of what we can do to it to respond to it, I would very much look to our commitment to making Wales a fair work nation and the work that we're doing through the Fair Work Commission to make recommendations to us on how we can improve what we're already doing, how we can use the levers that we have, but also to explore what other additional steps might be needed, for example, including legislation in future. So, this report will certainly be an important consideration for that commission that is due to come forward with recommendations in March of this year.