4. What assessment has the Minister made of the effectiveness of broadcasting in Wales during the Covid-19 pandemic? OQ55367

Thank you very much for that question. And I will find the answer in a few moments' time. Here we are. The Welsh Government has worked closely with the public service broadcasters and with Ofcom in Wales during this current public health crisis on broadcasting issues that affect Wales, despite the fact that broadcasting is not devolved.

Minister, during the current pandemic, the accuracy of broadcasting has consistently disappointed us here in Wales. People believe that the situation with different rules being in place for Wales is not being given enough prominence by public service broadcasters at a UK level. We in Wales are often fed with erroneous information, or incomplete information, as to the various different COVID rules in Wales as compared to England, for example. Now, as you've said, the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry into the devolution of broadcasting to this Senedd. But, in the short term, Deputy Minister, with this pandemic still affecting us, what discussions are you having with the public service broadcasters in the UK, the wider media, and with the UK Government, to ensure that the messages conveyed to the people of Wales are clear and accurate?

This is a matter for Ofcom as the regulator. And may I again ask for examples? Every time we come across examples as Ministers, or officials within Government, we raise them directly. But the problem does not lie in Wales. It is a problem in terms of a lack of understanding of the UK constitution, and of the impact of devolution, among broadcasters who broadcast in Wales from England.

Deputy Minister, as well as the large public sector broadcasters, there's a whole host of community and local and regional radio stations around Wales, and we've seen during the pandemic the vital role they play, both in raising the morale of people locally, but also as a news outlet. Do you think it's time that we recognised their contribution, perhaps through procurement and advertising and public service announcements as well, and information, as a key way of supporting these really important community advocates?

That question warms my heart, because in the dim and distant past, I was a director of one of these community stations, called Champion FM, in the north, and it was a very successful radio station, which is still operating. I have followed, with some concern, what has happened in terms of the ownership and control of some of our smaller stations. And I can see that there is a very strong argument for us ensuring that there is always support, which can be directed at arm's length to community radio. And I'm very happy to take another look at this and see if there's more direct support that we can give. But it has to be, in my view, at arm's length. It shouldn't be Welsh Government investing in radio stations, even if we had the money to do it.

Thank you, Deputy Minister, I have listened with interest to the questions and answers from other people on this topic, and the reason I wanted to come in was to say that I've been contacted by a number of constituents who were very angry that they'd heard the wrong messages on the UK TV show This Morning, and were very concerned to ring in or text in to put them straight about what the position was here in Wales. I think there's no better evidence that the Welsh Government's message is getting out loud and clear in Wales than constituents ringing in to This Morning to tell them that their message is actually incorrect. So, would you agree with me, Deputy Minister, that that shows that the Welsh Government's message is getting out loud and clear here in Wales, even if there are difficulties getting the right message through to UK media?

Thank you very much, Vikki, for providing us with that example. I didn't actually see that particular programme, but certainly I'll make sure that the communications people who work very hard to make sure that the Welsh Government's message is transmitted properly to the people of Wales are able to ensure that that message is also transmitted properly to stations received in Wales from outside, where the journalists and the presenters often don't have an understanding of the interesting complexity of the constitution of the United Kingdom.