Pilot Test Events

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:09 pm on 26 May 2021.

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Photo of Janet Finch-Saunders Janet Finch-Saunders Conservative 2:09, 26 May 2021

Diolch, Llywydd. My congratulations to you and our First Minister—to you both—for your new, well, current, respective roles. It's nice to be back here on the floor of the Siambr and, indeed, as an elected Member of this Senedd, and I thank the people of Aberconwy for bestowing what is a huge privilege.

Now, whilst the pilot test events to develop processes and guidance are to be welcomed, your own current Welsh Government guidance for the arts sector does have a major contradictory point. The actual wording is causing a dilemma for one of our leading Aberconwy music festivals, which is soon, hopefully, to be taking place within a local church. So, I ask you, First Minister: why does your guidance, entitled 'Rehearsing, performing and taking part in the performing arts', allow wind instruments to be played indoors, but the guidance on reopening places of worship prohibits those wind instruments from being used? Your planning has also hit a duff note with our larger scale outdoor events. Indeed, Adam Newton, Tough Runner UK, has referred to the Welsh Government as only having half a plan. So, therefore, will you put a road map in place for larger scale events to recommence and for this to include a wider variety of settings, thereby bringing some normality back to our much-held long traditions? Diolch.