9 November 2020

Annwyl Dafydd,

At its most recent meeting on 5 November, the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee agreed that we would write to you for further information on a number of points which are detailed below.

Support for live music sector from Creative Wales

We have previously welcomed the substantial funding provided by Creative Wales to grassroots venues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has generally provided the sector with a vital lifeline during these challenging times. However, we heard that delays to distributing the funding allocations – particularly when music and hospitality venues have costs to cover now – may lead to businesses going bust in the interim.

We would be grateful if you could update us in your response on the current timescales for getting funding through to venues and whether there is scope to expedite this process. With this in mind we also ask whether any consideration has been given to sharing staff resource from the Economy team (who have the skills and experience in distributing grant funding) with Creative Wales on a time limited basis to meet the current demands being placed on Creative Wales funding?

Supplementary Budget 2020-21

In considering the Supplementary Budget 2020-21 we would welcome a response to the following:

-      Sport Wales has and additional £12.5 million allocated to it, however the Sport and Leisure Recovery Fund (which we understood to be new money) was for £14 million. Would it be possible to clarify this discrepancy?

-      We note that Cadw’s capital budget has been reduced by £3.7 million – are you able to clarify the reasons for this reduction?

-      The new allocations for culture described in the Supplementary Budget equate to more than the £53 million Cultural Recovery Fund – would it be possible to clarify the reason for this?

 

In order to inform the work of the Committee I would be grateful if you could respond to these questions by 27 November.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Mary Jones

Chair of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee