4. 90-second Statements

– in the Senedd at 3:16 pm on 30 November 2022.

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Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru 3:16, 30 November 2022

(Translated)

Item 4 is next, therefore, the 90-second statements, and the first statement is from Jenny Rathbone.

Photo of Jenny Rathbone Jenny Rathbone Labour

The Clink restaurant in Cardiff has operated for over 10 years from a building attached to Cardiff prison. It's one of four restaurants operated by The Clink Charity—the others are in Brixton, High Down and Styal prisons. The Cardiff teaching kitchen and restaurant is situated outside the prison walls, so it can only recruit category C prisoners who are not deemed at risk of absconding. There are no category C prisoners in Cardiff prison, so all the learners are recruited from Prescoed prison in Usk.

It's put hope on the menu for nearly 3,000 learners, who've graduated with City and Guilds qualifications in food service, food safety, food preparation and cookery. Most Clink graduates go on to full-time employment, and, unsurprisingly, they are two thirds less likely to reoffend and end up back in prison than other prisoners. It really is a rehabilitation programme that works. 

Pre COVID, Cardiff Clink achieved the very highest accolade for its food, alongside famous foodie destinations like Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons. What's not to like about this success story? Last week, I, sadly, attended a farewell dinner at The Clink. It was both a celebration and a wake. I met graduates, trainers and employers who'd provided training places and employment. HMP Cardiff needs to explain why they decided not to renew the lease of this very successful charity. The Clink will close on 16 December.

Photo of Vikki Howells Vikki Howells Labour 3:18, 30 November 2022

On 25 November, The Mousetrap celebrated the seventieth anniversary of its opening in the Ambassador Theatre. For many years, Agatha Christie's theatrical masterpiece has held the record of the longest-running stage play in the world. It has been performed just under 29,000 times on the London stage and seen by over 10 million people. It led the West End out of lockdown; the first show to reopen now in its current home of St Martin's Theatre.

Royalties from the play were given by the queen of crime to her grandson, Mathew Pritchard. In 1995, Mathew set up the Colwinston charitable trust to support arts groups largely funded by those royalties. Each year, the trust distributes hundreds of thousands of pounds, with arts organisations in Wales receiving around 80 per cent of all grants. The trust has supported the National Museum of Wales, the National Eisteddfod, the Welsh National Opera, the Royal College of Music and Drama, and Welsh universities. It has also supported more local organisations and projects, particularly those benefitting children and young people or linked to improving access to the arts, like Valleys Kids. Seventieth birthday celebrations for The Mousetrap will include its Broadway debut and a tour around the UK, including performances in Cardiff and Swansea, and also a legacy of continuing to support the arts in Wales. Just remember to keep the secret locked. 

Photo of Heledd Fychan Heledd Fychan Plaid Cymru 3:19, 30 November 2022

(Translated)

With players, staff and supporters of the Cymru men's football team preparing to leave Qatar to return home, I wanted to take the opportunity today to convey our thanks to all of them, together with the Red Wall who supported them here in Wales. Although our journey has come to an end and there is a natural sense of disappointment, there is also so much to celebrate, and that's what I'd like to reflect on today.

Reaching the world cup for the first time since 1958 was a tremendous achievement, and a source of pride for the entire nation. This is the first time ever for a great many of us to see our national team in the tournament, and the team has managed to motivate fans of all ages and show the world that this small country that we love is 'still here'— ‘yma o hyd’.

At such a difficult time for so many people following COVID and now the cost-of-living crisis, hasn't it been great to have the chance to celebrate our nation and to see a sea of red and bucket hats across the nation and on our tv screens? I'm sure that I wasn't the only one to have tears in my eyes while watching our first game against the USA on tv and hearing our anthem echoing through the stadium and realising that it was the first time for it ever to have been heard by so many people.

And a special tribute must be paid to the way in which the Football Association of Wales, led by Noel Mooney and also Ian Gwyn Hughes, have ensured that Wales, not just the association, has benefited from this incredible opportunity, building on the great work that the association has been doing for years, seeking to modernise and collaborate with the Red Wall, and ensuring that football belongs to everyone in Wales, and that the word ‘Cymru’ also belongs to everyone, whether you speak Welsh or not.

The pinnacle of this work was seeing our history, our language and our values at the heart of the whole world cup campaign. I will never forget being in Cardiff City stadium when we secured our place in the world cup and seeing the whole team, with Dafydd Iwan in their midst, singing 'Yma o Hyd', and even a few members of the Tory party singing 'Er gwaetha’r hen Fagi a’i chriw'—don't worry, I won’t name you today. As Dafydd Iwan said when he was interviewed in Qatar, regardless of the result in the tournament, without a doubt, Wales has won. And as Gareth Bale said when he was interviewed last night, looking ahead to the Euros:

Photo of Heledd Fychan Heledd Fychan Plaid Cymru 3:20, 30 November 2022

(Translated)

They can be sure, as can the women's team, that, whatever the results are in the future, the Red Wall will be there to celebrate and support as it has throughout this journey. Together stronger. Thank you, team Cymru. [Applause.]

Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru 3:22, 30 November 2022

And in the spirit of 90-minute football matches never being within the 90 minutes these days, I allowed that 90-second statement to go beyond the 90 seconds. [Laughter.] But that's not to be repeated. 

Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru

(Translated)

I thank Heledd for reflecting all of our feelings as we consider our football team and supporters and everyone who's represented Wales so superbly.