The impact of the Budget on your Broadcasting Agenda

Dear Ministers,

We are writing to ask a question about the implications of the proposed cuts of £1.1 million to the 'broadcasting and media' BEL in the draft budget that you published this month. We would be grateful if you could answer the following questions:

• Is this the BEL that’s supposed to pay for the proposals that you published in a written statement on 12 March this year to establish a Broadcasting and Communications Advisory Body?
• How do you plan to proceed with your proposals for the new Broadcasting and Communications Body in light of your new budget proposals, and what is the timetable for that? 

Since the announcement in 2021 that the Welsh Government believes that 'broadcasting and communication powers should be devolved to Wales' and the findings of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales that 'robust work should continue on potential routes to devolution' of broadcasting, we have been pleased that there is cross-party support for our campaign to secure broadcasting and communication powers for our Senedd. 

In light of the lack of information about our politics and the alarming increase in dangerous misinformation that contributes to the growth of far right wing forces allowed by the current flawed neo-liberal 'regulatory' system, we sincerely hope that you will continue to proceed with your proposals for a Broadcasting and Communications Body for the benefit of democracy and cultures of Wales.

In that regard, we would be grateful if you could say when there will be an announcement about the appointment of members to the Broadcasting and Communications Body and a timetable for their work.

Yours sincerely,

Carl Morris

Chair, Digital Group, Cymdeithas yr Iaith

Cc: Chair of the Senedd Culture Committee, Chair of the Finance Committee, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Jane Dodds MS; Plaid Cymru Spokesperson on Broadcasting, Heledd Fychan MS.