5. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the economic size and impact of Wales's cultural, arts and heritage sectors? OQ61021

There is a huge economic value to those sectors. In the last year, the Welsh Government has commissioned a review of the culture sector to ensure that we do understand better the evidence base that we have in order to evaluate the economic impact, and has found gaps in the evidence that we have, and we're pressing ahead to fill those gaps.

Thank you very much for that response. It's very positive indeed, because it has been disappointing, in the discussions that have taken place on Government budgets, to hear some Ministers, and perhaps the new First Minister, talking about difficult choices that the Government, of course, has to make, but not seeming to appreciate the economic value of these crucially important sectors, not only as employers, but also in terms of cultural tourism and so on. So, can I ask you, in terms of that work, clearly we are expecting a new culture strategy, which will hopefully look at the economic aspects too, but how then will you ensure, when discussing future budgets, that we also look at the economic value and the money that comes back to Wales in making decisions on funding, rather than placing one budget at odds with the other, without thinking about the economic impact?

Well, I know that this is a priority for the Cabinet Secretary for culture. A priority in supporting the museum is part of that. In my opinion, the well-being and cultural interests of the country are tied into the economic prosperity of the country in many ways, so it is very important that we do recognise and understand better than we do at present the economic impact of those activities that we fund. So, the arts council has done work in this area in the past, and Cadw has done work in this area, and the work carried out last year is going to ensure that we have a better understanding. It's not a comprehensive understanding, I have to say, but it's a better understanding than there has been in the past.

So, in looking at the strategic priorities for culture over the next five years, we will have a better foundation to undertake those vital assessments. And it is important that we do that, as the Member says, so that we do understand the value of all the investments that we can make, and that we have a full picture, so that we can ensure economic and cultural prosperity at the same time.

I’m interested to know what the economic impact will be of the Welsh Government’s decision to simultaneously cut funding to national museum Wales, and prioritise their bizarre ambition to decolonise public art. Welsh Government guidance states that public art must be decolonised and should celebrate the achievements of our diverse society or risk being removed. Aside from this issue not being a priority to most people in Wales, it’s also not a grown-up way to grapple with history, I’m afraid. We can celebrate the achievements of our diverse society without taking an Orwellian Tipp-Ex pen to public artwork that is not in vogue. Many were saddened to hear the chief executive of Museum Wales on BBC Radio Wales telling listeners that the museum is facing—[Interruption.]

I really do want to hear what the Member has to say.

Thank you very much. It's facing a £4.5 million reduction in its budget from the Welsh Government and its future is now in jeopardy. A priceless cultural icon of Wales that has enriched lives across generations is now facing public closure due to budget cuts. So, to avert fears of looking like a philistine Government, will the Cabinet Secretary provide the necessary funding so that future generations will benefit from the same cultural and artistic enrichment that we have the luxury of having here in Wales? And I can see the Minister there with direct responsibility laughing at my remarks, but I’m sure most people in Wales who enjoy the rich cultural history that we have in this country would not find it funny.

Well, I pity poor socialist George Orwell turning in his grave thinking at being prayed in aid by that intervention. I think the response of the public to the museum in Wales is probably best illustrated by the spotlight on museums survey that indicated the economic impact of visits to museums in Wales was around £134 million, which suggests to me that members of the public actually want to go to the museums that we are recommending that they visit. I just want to take issue with the point that he made in relation to the national museum. There are no plans to close the museum. We are working with the museum to develop a plan to address the maintenance issues in Cardiff in particular, and whenever we've received requests for additional capital funding from Amgueddfa Cymru, we've responded. So, in addition to its roughly £5 million capital grant in aid last year, we provided an extra sum of £2 million to help tackle some of the long-term maintenance issues and for the redevelopment of the slate museum as well. So, here we have a Government that, in the face of a policy of austerity that has led to significant cuts in our budget from Westminster, is still doing everything it can to work with the sector to support the sector, including in very challenging times.