We now move to item 11, the second Welsh Conservative debate on summer shows and events. I call on Samuel Kurtz to move the motion.

Motion NDM8065 Darren Millar

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Welcomes the return of the National Eisteddfod, the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, along with summer shows and events across Wales.

2. Recognises the benefits of the summer event season in promoting the Welsh language, culture, produce, and way of life.

3. Thanks all those involved in ensuring the events are a success.

Motion moved.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. On this, the final Plenary day of term before the summer recess, I am delighted to open this debate on behalf of the Welsh Conservatives on a subject very close to my heart. Our debate today pays tribute to the hard work that goes into the organising, running and operating of our agricultural shows, our major cultural events, such as the National Eisteddfod, and other large-scale outdoor events, such as the Ironman competition that takes place around Tenby in my constituency later this year.

Our motion welcomes these events back after the pause button was pressed and acknowledges the efforts of keeping these businesses running during COVID restrictions. It also recognises the immense economic and cultural benefits that hosting these events, often in rural areas, brings to Wales. Dirprwy Lywydd, this is the point when I must declare an interest as chair of Pembrokeshire Young Farmers Club and as a director of Wales YFC. And while many people my age will be heading abroad this summer, there is only one place I want to be spending my first week of recess and that's at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells—the same place that I have spent the third week of July for much of the last 25 years. The Royal Welsh is my Glastonbury. The annual pilgrimage to mid Wales brings £40 million into the Welsh economy, and the last show held in 2019 saw over 250,000—0.25 million—visitors during the show week. So, I am not alone in getting excited for this show. It provides an excellent shop window for our fantastic agricultural industry and its produce. And after the difficulties of the last two years, the show offers an opportunity for like-minded people to meet up, socialise, exchange ideas and relax. This doesn't just happen at the Royal Welsh, though, it happens at every agricultural show held the length and breadth of Wales, from the one-day Pembroke town and country show in my constituency to the multiple-day shows such as the Royal Welsh. Their return this summer, in all their glory, is important for the mental and physical health of our people, as it is for the economy that they support. And these benefits aren't just seen at agricultural shows.

Our eisteddfodau are crucial in strengthening and safeguarding our language and culture. As a young boy, the summer weeks were full of travelling across west Wales taking part in local eisteddfodau, reciting poems on the stage, and on occasion, I'd win a cup or two. When the 2020 Eisteddfod was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this was the first time that the Eisteddfod hadn't been held since 1914, when the event had to be cancelled in response to the start of the first world war. But now we welcome the National Eisteddfod back in Tregaron at the end of July, after the success of the Urdd Eisteddfod in Denbigh back in May.

These events are the silver thread running through the story and narrative of our history and culture. Their importance and contribution cannot be overestimated. Therefore, Members, as the sun beats down on us and we go and plan our summer recess visits, I not only urge you to back our motion before you today, but I also urge you all to visit our agricultural shows, our eisteddfodau and all the events that make their very welcome return this summer. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.

I'm pleased to echo many of the points raised by Samuel Kurtz. Certainly, the summer events are an important part of our calendar as a nation, from the small agricultural shows to the Royal Welsh and all the musical and cultural festivals such as the International Eisteddfod that's just been held in Llangollen and the National Eisteddfod. I think we've all missed them hugely over the past few years, and their loss has been felt. Of course, some things went virtually, such as Eisteddfod AmGen, which gave a flavour of the eisteddfod, but there's nothing like being on the eisteddfod field, complaining about the weather, whatever that may be, whether it's too hot or too wet, seeing old friends and making new friends. There are things that we've all missed. Personally, the Anglesey Show is the one that I've always visited since being a child, with my lifelong friend Ann, going on on the waltzers. We used to do that, and we still do—we're not too old for that. So, I look forward to doing that again. I think I'm sharing too much today, perhaps. [Laughter.]

But it has been a long three years, and I think one of the things that was missing from the motion—and I'm glad to see Sam emphasise this—is the economic benefits that these shows provide. The economic impact and the fact that the National Eisteddfod does travel the length and breadth of Wales—something that's been contentious over the years—demonstrates the local legacy economically but also in terms of the language. I'm sure many of us will remember the National Eisteddfod in Abergavenny, where so many Welsh learners were involved—I know that Peter Fox was a major part in that—and there was a legacy in Abergavenny, and it's so important that the Eisteddfod does travel and that it truly is a national eisteddfod for everyone in Wales. And I'll be delighted to see the Eisteddfod returning to Tregaron.

One of the things we forget too often, particularly with the National Eisteddfod, is the fact that it is seen as a Welsh language festival, but it is an international festival too, and I often think that we don't take enough advantage of that. Because when we do see people from abroad coming to the National Eisteddfod, they fall in love with it; they're delighted. I remember when Eluned Morgan was Minister with responsibility for international affairs and the Welsh language, and, when she was at the Eisteddfod, saw many international visitors at the Eisteddfod who were delighted they could enjoy because of the interpretation equipment available. And I do think that we're missing out on opportunities to promote the National Eisteddfod as an international event that everyone can enjoy, and that it still excludes many people in Wales. In the past, I've welcomed when the Welsh Government has funded free entry days to the National Eisteddfod. I think, with the cost-of-living crisis, one of the things that worries me is the cost of entry to some of these important events, and I would like to see us looking in future as to how we make events such as the Royal Welsh and the National Eisteddfod affordable to all, particularly those communities who will be immersed in these events but perhaps can't attend because of the cost.

So, clearly, I want to echo the thanks to everyone who works so hard to ensure that these events take place, but I think there is work to be done in looking at making them affordable so that more people can enjoy them, and in looking at their international promotion.

I have to concur with everything that my colleague Sam Kurtz said earlier, and I too am looking forward to going to the Royal Welsh Show next week. And all this talk of shows is making me yearn for my annual pork, crackling and apple sauce roll that I have, without doubt, at every single show that I go to. And whether it be showcasing or offering the outstanding local produce that we have in my home county of Monmouthshire, across my region of South Wales East, or Wales, or showcasing our livestock, entering competitions for best home-made jams or cake, or looking at pupils from local schools' handwriting competitions, visiting the many stalls, themed tents, horticulture, or, as I now spend most of my time doing, looking at tractors, tractors and more tractors, there is something for everyone at our shows, in the wonderful variety of shows that we have across my region and Wales throughout the summer. We're so lucky to have them. As well as attracting many visitors to Wales—we can't forget the enormous economic benefit that's been outlined already that they bring to our patches—these shows also bring local communities together, meeting or seeing friends and family you haven't seen for ages or since the previous show the year before.

What strikes me is the enormous amount of work that goes into running a show. My father has always been a vice-president or steward of my local Usk show, so I've always had some awareness. When my friend Nia Thomas took over the role of organising our local show, I was amazed at the amount of work that was put in all year round to put on these shows. So, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank her, the Usk show team and to give a shout-out to all the behind-the-scenes volunteers that make our shows possible.

Our shows are also good educators, as local schools are almost always heavily involved, for agriculture shows give a real insight into the rural way of life to those that maybe come to shows for the first time from urban areas. It's particularly important for our children to get first-hand experience of seeing animals close up, to understand the food chain, how things work and how things get to their plates. Farmers are true custodians of our rural way of life and our environment, and our shows are really a chance to support them. I urge everyone to do that this year.

Our summer and agricultural shows truly embody what is the best that Wales has to offer, and, as Heledd said, we need to promote that further on a world stage. Sadly, though, not all our shows will be back this year, with the 150-year-old Monmouthshire show being cancelled due to financial restraints caused by the pandemic. To me, this just sums up how fragile and vulnerable our shows actually are, and how much they need our support, encouragement, promotion and financial backing where possible in the coming summers. So, I'm grateful to our group for tabling this debate today, and I join Sam Kurtz in encouraging the people of Wales to support their local shows.

It gives me great pleasure to join in this debate.

Thank you very much to Sam for moving this motion.

The well-being of future generations Act highlights the importance of cohesive communities and a thriving Welsh culture and language, and our shows have such an important contribution to achieving those aims. Whether that be, as has been mentioned, the Royal Welsh Show, held in Llanelwedd, which is a huge economic draw for that part of Brecon and Radnorshire, or the Trefeglwys eisteddfod in Montgomeryshire, which this year enters its hundred-and-fifth year, these shows play a critical role in bringing our communities together.

If I may, Dirprwy Lywydd, I'm going to pitch in for some of the ones that I really love in my region: the Neyland carnival, it was its hundredth one last week; the Llanfair Caereinion show, one of the best agricultural shows; the Llanfechain show, a really small show, have the best fish-out-a-duck competition; the Sesiwn Fawr in Dolgellau, a music festival. Here's one that I think we should all go to: the Llanelli dog show. Gŵyl Fwyd Pwllheli, the Big Summer Camp Out in Llanbedr, and, finally, Llanwrtyd Wells, a place in Brecon and Radnorshire, which has two amazing international festivals, firstly, the Man v Horse event, which this year the man actually won—the first time in 15 years—and, of course, Llanwrtyd Wells—[Interruption.] Yes, of course I would—was it you, Jack, who won that competition?

It certainly wasn't me on this occasion, but maybe next year. I wonder if you would include in your list the Flint and Denbigh show, where I and Darren Millar will be at the big cat stand this summer? [Laughter.]

Marvellous. So, the Llanelli dog show will perhaps visit the big cat stand up in the Flintshire show. I just really wanted, finally, to mention one other place and one other thing happening, in Llanwrtyd Wells: the bog snorkelling championships. That is back this year. Now, for those of you who want to take part, believe me, you will need a very large bath afterwards in order to ensure that you are well and truly cleansed, but it is really an event that we all have to go to.

To finish, if that's okay, in terms of language and culture in particular, I'm sure that we can all agree that it's great that the Urdd Eisteddfod and the National Eisteddfod have and will be held this year. I'm looking forward to visiting the National Eisteddfod, and I'm extremely pleased that thousands of children and young people will have the chance to experience the event—the first time for the Eisteddfod to visit Ceredigion in 30 years. 

I thank the Conservatives and Sam for bringing forward this debate. It's a great debate to have at the end of term and as we look forward to the summer. Thank you very much.

I am so happy to take part in this debate today. Summer shows are a part of the fabric of life in Brecon and Radnorshire. It's just what we do, is summer shows, and as somebody who was born and raised in my constituency, I spent a lot of my youth running around summer shows, in and out the beer tent when I was 18 and also going around taking part in the sports and everything else. It is just part of our community, and it brings communities together across my constituency. The young come together, the old come together, to show their livestock, their pets, the shearing, your Welsh cakes, the cider, and also, in certain shows, the longest thistle competition. I would advise anybody to take part in that.

The summer shows, before long, will be in full swing in Brecon and Radnorshire, and it's a great opportunity to meet your friends and meet constituents. As a number of people across this Chamber—

Will you take an intervention?

I will take an intervention from my friend.

Will the Member for Brecon and Radnorshire accept that Brecon and Radnor don't hold the monopoly on shows, of course, and that, in Montgomeryshire, there are also great shows that are taking place as well? There's the large Llanfyllin show, there's the Montgomery show with its fantastic town crier, Sue Blower, and Trefeglwys show and the Llanfair Caereinion show, which meets at the last of the season in September.

Can the Member not repeat every show in Montgomeryshire this afternoon?

And, last of all, the Dolfor show, in which I will be taking part in a food competition this year. When I attend the shows, I won't be just in the beer tents; I will be out meeting my constituents.

And, of course, it's very important to support your local breweries, Russ, which will be in the beer tents, but it is a great opportunity going around summer shows to meet your constituents, as you said. And, as many people and a few in this Chamber know who have stood in the great seat of Brecon and Radnorshire, if you don't go around the summer shows, you're just simply not going to get elected, as Andrew R.T. Davies reminded me when I first came here.

Russell named a lot of shows in Montgomeryshire, but he doesn't claim to have one of the oldest shows in the United Kingdom. The Brecon agricultural society is the oldest in the UK, and that goes back 267 years, and that is some sort of achievement. But the highlight of the summer show season is the Royal Welsh Show. It is the jewel in the crown of all summer shows. It brings, as Sam Kurtz said, over 200,000 people to Builth Wells, descending on my constituency, and, as Sam has said, it was my summer holiday for many, many years and will be my summer holiday this year.

Shows are a part of the rural way of life, and long may they continue. And, as Sam Kurtz said earlier, we all are going into recess now, so if any of you want to come and see a very good summer show, I would suggest you come to Brecon and Radnorshire for a very warm welcome, and I want to say 'good luck' to everybody across Wales, and especially my constituency, on having fantastic summer shows.

I call on the Deputy Minister for arts and sport, Dawn Bowden.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I thank the Welsh Conservatives and Samuel Kurtz for tabling this debate today? It was a very good, feel-good end-of-term debate, and it was lovely to hear it. And it's very timely, given that we've actually launched our new national events strategy just today.

As many have already pointed out, not only are events something that we all want to enjoy, they are a vital part of the visitor economy. As set out in the programme for government, the Welsh Government is determined to do all that we can to help our tourism, sports and arts industry recover from the experience of the pandemic, because the impact of the pandemic can't be underestimated. The events sector was one of the first to close and the last to open. During this time, we worked closely with the sector, establishing an events advisory group and working in partnership with event organisers to deliver pilot events when it was safe to do so, and that strong theme of working in partnership continues throughout the new strategy. We know that the cost-of-living crisis, Brexit and the staff/volunteer shortages are also continuing to impact, but our focus remains on supporting the Welsh events industry to survive, while also looking to the future by developing Welsh events and suppliers and attracting international events in order to further enhance Wales's reputation as a leading events destination. The importance of events to the economy of Wales and the well-being of the nation was recognised by the support that we provided of almost £24 million to over 200 individual businesses in the events sector through three rounds of the cultural recovery fund.

So, the return of the Royal Welsh Show is, of course, very welcome, and I'm pleased that the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd has recently approved funding to the value of £110,000 to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society for the 2022-23 financial year. The Royal Welsh has played a leading role in the development of agriculture and the rural economy in Wales for well over a century. Its work includes providing support to business, social welfare and education in rural communities as well as delivering its charitable objectives. The Royal Welsh estimates it contributes in excess of £40 million per annum to the economy of Wales. The three main events in 2019—the Royal Welsh Show, the Smallholding and Countryside Festival and the winter fair—attracted around 300,000 attendees, including over 1,000 overseas visitors from 22 countries worldwide. The Royal Welsh Show is the largest event of its kind in the UK and beyond, and it is seen as the pinnacle of showcasing Welsh agriculture, and it also promotes the culture of Wales and the Welsh language.

And when the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol opens its gates in Tregaron at the end of the month it will offer 15,000 free tickets to local families who don't usually attend the Eisteddfod. It will do this by working closely with partners, such as the county council and charities like the Red Cross and sponsors such as the housing association Barcud. This is being made possible with an additional £100,000 in Welsh Government funding through the Summer of Fun grant. In particular, families will be encouraged to visit the Pentref Plant, where all activities will be welcoming and inclusive, encouraging people to use the Welsh that they have and showing that Welsh is a language of play, fun and socialising, as well as a language of school and education. Whilst being a key partner in delivering the aims of our Welsh-language strategy, 'Cymraeg 2050: A million Welsh speakers', the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol also brings a substantial economic benefit to the areas that it visits each year. Again, to support the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol through the pandemic, the Welsh Government allocated an additional £800,000 in 2021 to the Eisteddfod, and their annual core grant funding has been increased by £300,000 in 2022 to support the future of the festival in what remains an uncertain time. So, as Heledd Fychan mentioned, we enjoyed the Eisteddfod Amgen on various digital platforms over the past two years. It will be lovely for people to be back on the maes this year to socialise, listen to live performances and to enjoy our unique culture at its best.

It was also wonderful to welcome Eisteddfod yr Urdd in Denbigh in May this year, and for people to be able to celebrate the festival's 100th year in person. In recognition of this momentous occasion, the Welsh Government allocated additional funding of £527,000 to support free entry, allowing everyone to enjoy the biggest youth festival in Europe. Early reports from the Urdd suggest that this has been an amazing success, with many families visiting the festival for the first time. And I certainly hope that this is something that we can see more of as we seek to widen access to such experiences. And I'm very pleased that, in addition to their annual core grant funding of £852,184, the Urdd will receive an extra £1.2 million this year, which will provide support to enable the Urdd to rebuild its services following COVID-19. The additional funding will employ a network of development officers to support children and young people in communities throughout Wales, as well as providing an apprenticeship programme through the medium of Welsh for young people in our most underprivileged communities.

The Welsh Government also supports many other local festivals delivered through mentrau iaith, which also play a vital role in allowing people to come together and use the Welsh language in their local communities.

And just last week I was delighted to see the return of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for its 75th anniversary, which I was fortunate enough to be able to attend. Events like this, the National Eisteddfod and the Royal Welsh Show are the highlight of the summer season for many people across Wales and beyond. They enrich our lives and they bring a sense of place and pride.

Since the previous events strategy was launched in 2010, we’ve made strong progress working across the sector and across Wales to develop an impressive portfolio of cultural and sporting events, and more recently we’ve entered the business events market for the first time. We’ve worked with local and international owners, utilised our top class venues and natural landscapes, and worked with local authorities, communities and event agencies across Wales to develop and grow sustainable events that deliver economic benefits, showcase our nation, raise our profile, and help us to deliver Welsh Government priorities.

Deputy Minister, you need to conclude now.

Okay. I was just going to say that the new strategy will build on these successes and the seven goals of the well-being of future generations Act. The strategy identifies clear ambitions to ensure an all-Wales approach to supporting events that are authentically Welsh, and it has been developed in consultation with the sector, and we will now work with stakeholders to develop an implementation plan in order to deliver our vision that Wales stages outstanding events that support the well-being of its people, place and the planet. Diolch yn fawr.

I call on Janet Finch-Saunders to reply to the debate.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you, Deputy Minister, for your response. I’ll get to what I’m going to say in a minute, but I think your words were very appropriate when you said what a fantastic and upbeat debate this is to have just before we all go away on our summer recess.

So, yes, summer’s here, and so are some of the fantastic and biggest outdoor events in Wales. From the Royal Welsh Show to the National Eisteddfod, Wales is a hotspot for summertime events and festivals, which bring together our friends and our families and indeed us as a Welsh community, and how refreshing to hear my colleague, the enthusiasm and passion of Sam Kurtz in his opening of today’s motion.

Now, as our nation does move forward from the pandemic, we do need to focus on getting visitors back and giving them the confidence that Wales is now open again for business, and, of course, that the Welsh Government is committed to supporting the needs of local communities during the peak visitor period, and it’s really heartening to hear some of the funding for the Eisteddfod and things like that, which you’ve mentioned today. Now, on 25 June, I attended the Llanrwst show—as did, actually, my colleague Llyr Gruffydd over there. I think we shared a paned in the FUW tent. But he's—[Interruption.] [Laughter.] Established some 140 years ago, the rural agricultural show promotes locally produced food and crafts, exhibits prize livestock—we even see pig racing—fantastic horticultural displays, and one that certainly marks an important day in the agricultural calendar of Aberconwy, attracting competitors and visitors from all over north Wales. It is events such as this that inject a vibrant atmosphere into our local communities.

Again, on 13 August, I will be in the Tal-y-Cafn showground for our annual Eglwysbach show.

I’ll see you there.

We’ll see you there. [Laughter.] Now, like big events such as the Royal Welsh, funding options are equally as important to smaller rural organised events. Now, this is why in March last year, because of the pandemic and because of the problems that smaller shows faced, stopping and having to start again after the pandemic, I did call for the establishment of a rural shows development fund, which would have grants made available to all shows to help with their marketing, safety measures and even greater diversification. I was quite fascinated, James, to hear about your longest thistle competition, so I'm going to look out for that when I come and visit you. We need to see an inclusion of a set of operational guidance for agricultural shows, so that they can come back with confidence. We need to see Visit Wales publish an agricultural show trail for Wales, so we know exactly where all these shows are going on, because, even though we all attend our own, I for one like to attend events in all of your constituencies.

So, to be fair to the Minister, she did respond advising that she would introduce a new innovation fund as well as a new accredited training package for individuals working or volunteering with show societies, and you've done that. You also said you would develop guidance for the return of outdoors in Wales and work with Visit Wales. So, I was going to ask you for an update, but, as I'm finishing, I can't. But, to me, you are actually on the case, and that's what we need to do. We need to actually be drawing in bigger audiences from across the UK and further afield. 

The Welsh language and culture is very beautiful, very alive and most importantly spoken at our cultural, agricultural shows. But, Heledd Fychan, you were very correct in talking about the fragility, but you were equally enthusiastic, reminding me very much of the fun to be had on a waltzer. And Laura Jones, I'm very much looking forward to sharing a roast pork and apple sauce—

I'm not sharing. [Laughter.]

No, not literally sharing. [Laughter.] But we do also have to—. And we've talked about the Eisteddfod. But we do also have to be familiar with all the other eisteddfodau across Wales. We should be encouraging local media, and especially S4C, to be present at county and community eisteddfodau so that people across Wales and further afield can watch Welsh talent from the comfort of their own sofa. 

The weather in Wales is already showing to be a perfect setting for events. I look forward to seeing more visitors exploring the plethora of activities that leave people with fond memories of our very green land. And I can't forget Jane Dodds. You were spot on too in recognising the value of our smaller community carnivals, our dog shows and all events that bring together our local communities. So, on that, I'm just going to give a shout-out to the Dolwyddelan Carnival, the Rowen Carnival and any other carnival and small dog shows and things in your own constituencies. I hope that you will all have a really happy and busy recess, doing whatever you want to do, but I also look forward to seeing you on the maes next week. Thank you. 

The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No. The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

That brings us to voting time, and so we'll take a short break in order to prepare for the vote technologically.

Plenary was suspended at 18:27.

The Senedd reconvened at 18:31, with the Deputy Presiding Officer in the Chair.