10. Short Debate: The importance of fans at sporting events for the social fabric of our communities — Postponed from 9 December

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 7:11 pm on 16 December 2020.

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Photo of Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas Independent 7:11, 16 December 2020

(Translated)

Thank you very much, acting Chair. May I first of all thank and acknowledge Andrew R.T. Davies's contribution to this debate, and also, if I may say, for the good neighbourliness—for which he is well known—in the Vale of Glamorgan? But, perhaps he won't agree with much more that I have to say today, because the first message that I have to restate today on behalf of the Welsh Government is that the first consideration for us as a responsible Government is public health.

The fact that this debate has had to take place today, rather than earlier on, demonstrates how dangerous it is for us to take decisions with regard to public health on short-term changes. Because by this evening, the situation with regard to public health in Wales is entirely serious. So, I don't think that it is appropriate for us to state any kind of promise with regard to a timescale for when we could change this situation.

Now, clearly, I am just as eager as Andrew R.T. Davies is to see crowds of supporters returning to sports grounds. I accept that crowds of supporters are vital to sport being enjoyable. But, the same debate arises with regard to audiences in other fields that are my responsibility, in the arts, for example. And even though we want to see supporters returning, that does have to happen in a safe way.

We, of course, compare our situation with what is happening in England and Scotland, and what has happened, unfortunately, in London and the south-east of England over the past few days. So, it is very important that we do make it clear that the Welsh Government has the firm will to allow the return of sports. I accept what Andrew R.T. Davies has said about the importance of sports clubs and the revenue that comes from sports clubs, particularly with regard to football, on the community level as well as the national level.

We had started with a number of plans for test events that would have included supporters, but we did have to postpone those test events. But, I can give an assurance that my officials who are involved in sport and who engage specifically with public health within the Government do have constant, consistent communication with all of the football associations, the rugby associations, the cricket bodies and the sports societies as well. We work with Sport Wales very closely, as well as with the national governing bodies. 

I announced recently a sport and leisure fund that was worth £14 million for 2020-21 to help the sector, and I accept that this is insufficient to deal with the situation. But this sport and leisure recovery fund is being administered on behalf of the Welsh Government by Sport Wales as our main partner in this field, and that work continues. And I am very eager to provide assurance to Andrew R.T. Davies that the Welsh Government is very willing to have that constant, consistent dialogue with the sports organisations, but the first priority has to be the prioritisation of public health.