Jack Sargeant
Welsh Labour · Wales
“The committee also referenced in its report the budgetary pressures that faced Amgueddfa Cymru during this financial year in particular. As we know, this has been a very tough year for all of our cultural organisations and there is no simple solution to fix their current financial challenges.”
“We continue to work in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru in responding to the 77 recommendations made by the tailored review. Sixty of those recommendations are now either requiring no further action or are incorporated into plans as business as usual.”
“So, if the Member's trying to say in the Chamber that those business leaders are wrong, I'd ask him to reflect on those points. But I've always been very, perhaps, surprised in some ways, but maybe not so much in others, that these are the same arguments used, Presiding Officer, not just by the Member, but more broadly by his group when t…”
“It's one the most treasured cultural organisations, and the events outlined in this report do represent an extremely challenging time in its history.”
“I'm grateful to Luke Fletcher for highlighting this important issue. The Member's right to point to the work of the workforce partnership council and the working group that was set up in response to a Senedd petition inquiry, which I had the pleasure of chairing. The Member sat on the committee and took part in that inquiry.”
“I thank the Member for those comments. I agree with the Member on the approach to flexible working in general—not just the four-day working week being the solution to the problems in there, but very much could be a solution to the problems. This is about a suite of options that could be available for employers and employees.”
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“Llywydd, our draft 'Priorities for Culture 2024–2030' sets out our priorities and ambitions for the next five years. We won't hold back on our ambitions for the sector. My ambition is that every person in Wales has the right to access, to curate, to participate in and to see themselves reflected in the cultural activity of the nation. Amgueddfa Cymru has a key role in helping to fulfil this and I'm committed to helping it thrive as an organisation. I have been assured that lessons have been learned and that challenges are being taken forward. Again, I'm grateful to the committee for their work on this report and do look forward to further scrutiny from the committee in the coming months ahead. Diolch.”
“The committee also referenced in its report the budgetary pressures that faced Amgueddfa Cymru during this financial year in particular. As we know, this has been a very tough year for all of our cultural organisations and there is no simple solution to fix their current financial challenges. Since the committee's report, Llywydd, we have made a further £940,000 investment in terms of revenue funding available to Amgueddfa Cymru, which it is using to rebuild following the recent restructure, to help it become more sustainable for the future and to strengthen its governance arrangements. We have also made funding available for critical works at the National Museum Cardiff, and once the Welsh Government's draft budget for 2025-26 has been agreed, we'll be liaising with the museum regarding its budget for the next financial year.”
“We continue to work in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru in responding to the 77 recommendations made by the tailored review. Sixty of those recommendations are now either requiring no further action or are incorporated into plans as business as usual. The remaining 17 recommendations—the majority of those will be completed or in plans as business as usual by March 2025. Governance reform is a priority for Amgueddfa Cymru's chair as she continues to respond to the tailored review and build a strong foundation for the future. This includes introducing a new committee structure for the board and reviewing key governance documentation. I do take on board, Chair, the points raised by Heledd, Adam and others around the diversity of boards, and this is an area that we could all do more on and we are all committed to doing so.”
“Work is also continuing on our guidance for raising a concern or complaint against a chair of a public body, on the roll-out of the self-assessment model for reviewing arm's-length bodies. We will keep the committee updated on these important pieces of work. In response to the report, we also agreed that our future referrals to the Charity Commission will be communicated to the committee and to the auditor general. The chair and chief executive of Amgueddfa Cymru have written to the committee responding to the recommendations relevant to them. Last month I had the opportunity to meet with them to discuss their vision for Amgueddfa Cymru's future and the role that it can play in supporting the priorities for culture and the Prif Weinidog's priorities.”
“We are continuing to review and update our policies and processes to help mitigate the risk of similar issues arising in the future. Since issuing our response, the Permanent Secretary has written to the committee outlining the approach being taken to update 'Managing Welsh Public Money'. Officials will be prioritising the essential elements within this document that require immediate attention, and as chapters are updated, they will be issued. We're aiming for a comprehensive review of the entire document to be completed by December 2025. And as stated in our response, Llywydd, the updated document will include clarifying processes to address scenarios where the Welsh Government is an involved party.”
“The Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip provided a response to the committee's report back in August. She noted that the committee had highlighted areas we had identified as priorities and where progress was already being made. As the Chair pointed out, of the eight recommendations for the Welsh Government, we accepted five in full and two in principle. We did not accept the recommendation related to reviewing each of our arm's-length sponsored bodies' grievance policies, which is the responsibility of individual accounting officers. There is already a statutory code of practice from ACAS, and they must follow a full and fair procedure in line with the code of practice for any discipline or grievance cases.”
“It's one the most treasured cultural organisations, and the events outlined in this report do represent an extremely challenging time in its history. Whilst I was not directly involved during this difficult time, I am confident that lessons have been learned and that the work undertaken by the committee, as well as the report published by the Auditor General for Wales, have played an important part in this process. I was pleased that the committee was satisfied that the decision to attempt to achieve a settlement instead of proceeding to a tribunal was the right course of action, noting the Chair's and the committee's response to the settlement. However, I understand that the decisions were made to resolve matters and enable all parties to move forward whilst avoiding greater cost to the public purse.”
“Diolch yn fawr, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I start by thanking the committee for the report, in particular the Chair, Mark Isherwood, for his leadership of the committee during this very difficult time and all of the other things the Chair has gone on to do, and to everybody who has contributed to this discussion today? I should say from the outset, Chair, that I very much welcome the work of the committee and the future work of the committee and the scrutiny of the committee with my portfolio and perhaps on the roll-out of the self-assessment model that the Chair and others have raised concerns with today. You could hear the passion in the response from all Members for Amgueddfa Cymru. Adam Price was right to point to it being one of the most important institutions to the nation.”
“So, the outcome of that pilot will be important, but where we can further enhance our offer in this sector, I'd be very keen to look at those opportunities. Diolch.”
“This is a real area that has great potential for growth and an ambition that matches that from the industry itself, so I will pick up that conversation with colleagues in Creative Wales and the development bank. It's a conversation that I would also like to have with the UK Government, who have also recognised creative industries in their industrial strategy. I think gaming plays a key part of that. The games fund, which I'll make sure the Member has the detail of, is available to companies already, but where we can further support this industry, perhaps through the development bank—. There is a pilot programme now that looks at supporting cash flow in the production industry, particularly around films. That might be something we could explore in the games industry as well.”
“Well, diolch yn fawr, Rhys, for your continued interest in the creative industries. You are a true champion for the sector in all of its ambitions. The Member points to video-gaming and the work of Mike Hedges—well, I'm grateful for the opportunity to be able to speak to that. So, we do, through Creative Wales, go on to support the video games industry. Rocket Science, again, just down the road from here, is one example of that. But the particular ask of the Member around the development bank and the work that they may do in the future—I'm very interested in what they may be able to offer in the future. It's a conversation that I will pick up with colleagues from Creative Wales.”
“Diolch, Rhys. As we saw from the statistics released last week, the growth of the creative industries in Wales continues to be a success story. Through Creative Wales and the Development Bank of Wales, we offer a range of financial support schemes, which are continually reviewed in light of market demands.”
“So, if the Member's trying to say in the Chamber that those business leaders are wrong, I'd ask him to reflect on those points. But I've always been very, perhaps, surprised in some ways, but maybe not so much in others, that these are the same arguments used, Presiding Officer, not just by the Member, but more broadly by his group when these debates happen. They were the same arguments used for the weekend as we know it, they were the same arguments used for the introduction of the minimum wage, they were the same arguments used against the creation of the NHS. The logic of these arguments would be the same arguments used to still send children down the mines and be okay with that. This is a potential solution to some of the challenges that workers face. It should be done in the way of social partnership.”
“I thank the Member for those comments. I agree with the Member on the approach to flexible working in general—not just the four-day working week being the solution to the problems in there, but very much could be a solution to the problems. This is about a suite of options that could be available for employers and employees. The important part of this is that it's not imposed on the workforce, it's done with the workforce, very much in the Welsh way of social partnership. I've always been very clear, Presiding Officer, that, where you can bring forward these types of proposals in the workplace, the benefits are there to be seen. The Member pointed to perhaps the public sector having a privilege over the private sector. Well, the private sector are very much leading the way on this issue.”
“So, when it comes to the next phase of that report, and the consideration of that report, it's for employers in the devolved public sector, workers and their trade unions to consider what that report means for them and their particular circumstances. If there was to be engagement in that, I'd be happy to help facilitate some of those conversations.”
“The Member points to the report that was published in March of this year. The report did not propose an immediate introduction of a four-day week in either the Welsh Government or devolved public services, but it did set out the core principles that employers and trade unions should consider if they were to consider trialling a shorter working week. The responsibility for trialling a shorter working week or for the management of the organisation and their own workplaces is with the devolved public sector bodies themselves. I expect them to discharge those responsibilities in social partnership.”
“I'm grateful to Luke Fletcher for highlighting this important issue. The Member's right to point to the work of the workforce partnership council and the working group that was set up in response to a Senedd petition inquiry, which I had the pleasure of chairing. The Member sat on the committee and took part in that inquiry. Presiding Officer, I think I'd like to pay tribute on the record to the lead petitioner, Mark Hooper, who started that process and that inquiry that followed. The Member is right to point to UK pilots where there have been successes. My view on the topic has not changed. The results from pilots across sectors, including the private sector, are very clear: where a shorter working week has been introduced in partnership with its workforce, the benefits are there to be seen.”
“Diolch. Together with our social partners, we thoroughly examined the opportunities and challenges of a four-day working week. This effort resulted in a report that the workforce partnership council reviewed, approved and published.”
“The Member's point around national status, as a national company—well, I'm aware the Arts Council of Wales will be discussing and revisiting the concept of national arts companies in the new financial year, so I think it would be not appropriate, given the arm's-length principle placed on the Arts Council of Wales, for me to pre-empt that discussion, but what I will say to the Member is I very much recognise the role Ballet Cymru play nationally, and also I can understand very much why John Griffiths is so proud to have them based in his Newport constituency. In closing, Presiding Officer, I think I'd like to again reflect and go back to where I finished in my opening remarks: to those who are in the creative industries, and, to my team of officials within Creative Wales, diolch o galon .”
“I'd like to thank John Griffiths for raising the work of Ballet Cymru, and I think I spoke at some point over the weekend, Presiding Officer, to say the ambition of the sector for the culture industry is very much that of bread and roses. And what does that mean in reality? Well, I think it means, if little Jack in Connah's Quay wants to join the ballet, then little Jack should be able to have that opportunity to join the ballet. I was delighted, John, to learn of the work of Ballet Cymru's school project, which does help hundreds of people, young people, nationally, with free annual tuition across a number of community arts organisations. I think that is very much bread and roses in action.”
“It's an industry I want to work in that collaborative way for. You pointed to the history of Cardiff, Rhys, and I'm sure you'll be delighted to know about Rocket Science in the centre of Cardiff, on St Mary's Street, a business that is doing some amazing things—the gold standard of the gaming industry—at the heart of the Welsh capital. Why shouldn't the ambition be to have more of that? We certainly want more of that. I look forward to working with the industry to make that happen.”
“Well, diolch. Thanks to Rhys ab Owen for his comments and contributions. The Member will be very pleased that the Red Wall, I'm sure, will drown out my singing tonight, but no doubt I'll be joining in with him. I think it's important, isn't it, to the workforce, to make sure you have a Government committed to ambition for the industry. I've been delighted to visit a number of stakeholders across the arts and culture sector, and the creative industries sector, speaking directly to the workforce, to make sure that they know this Welsh Government is committed to seeing the industry grow, but also letting that creative talent have impacts in other ways, such as the well-being of our nation. So, I'm not going to go into those discussions with the Cabinet Secretary in front of me, but I am hopeful for the future of this industry.”
“We're also proud, equally, of the creators of today, and I'm proud that we have supported the development of a new series, Mini Buds , which is being created in Cardiff by the local company Bumpybox, and this series will be available in Cymraeg on S4C, and, indeed, in English on ITV. The Member pointed to how I'm working with the UK Government. Well, I'm pleased to see that the UK Government sees the creative industries as a priority sector in the industrial strategy. I was delighted to be with the Secretary of State from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, at Buckingham Palace just last week, and I'd be very keen to discuss this further with Lisa Nandy, perhaps on a visit to see the TARDIS. I know she was very keen to see Doctor Who 's TARDIS, Presiding Officer.”
“On esports, Presiding Officer, I think the personal interest the Member refers to is me as player of, perhaps a keen player, of FIFA, rather than a financial interest in the matter, but nonetheless I definitely enjoy that, and I know at one point me and Darren Millar were due to have a FIFA tournament here in the Senedd. That never took off, so maybe that's something to look at. But it was good to be with Esports Wales a few weeks ago here, and working on where we can support further, and, as I've said, we will be supporting them through the creative skills fund and expanding the Esports Wales Academy across Wales. I thank Mike Hedges for bringing up animation, Sam Tân in particular, because we are proud, aren't we, of our animation industry, including those global successes of the past?”
“Thank you, Mike Hedges, for that. You're right to point to the games industry, I think, Mike, as an area of real growth. The games industry in the UK was worth £7.6 billion in 2023 and that's why we see it as a key area for the future. The Member asked, I think, about the GTA equivalent, made in Dundee. Well, I think I pointed in my statement to Sker Ritual . That would very much be recognised as our equivalent, one of the leading games, one of the best-selling games, in the world, and I think it's a fantastic success that came from the Penarth-based games company Wales Interactive.”
“We're looking to work with more broadly with Esports Wales to help growth there. You spoke about the Books Council of Wales. Well, it is worth reflecting again that £150,000, Presiding Officer, was sent to the books council so Welsh publishers could be at the London and Frankfurt book fairs, and the feedback from that has been very, very positive from the 18 publishers exhibiting. So, I think, while I'm reflecting, Presiding Officer, on all the good things—and there are some fantastic things that I've listed today—of course there are challenges. We'll have to wait to see what the budget round brings, but I'm committed to this industry. I'm very ambitious about what this can bring, and, through the support of Creative Wales in particular, we have some real successes here that we all should be proud of and we can all support.”
“And when we talk about the creative industries sector, as I've said around the production funding alone, £26.5 million spent, over £313 million expected spend back in the economy. We're very much aware of the impact it has, but, more broadly, on the well-being agenda and the impact it has on our nation's well-being, well, I think the First Minister and I very much recognise the importance of the sector and what it can bring to our well-being as a nation, but I'll refrain from going into budget discussions just with the Cabinet Secretary sat in front of me. What does it look like? Well, we'll go on, won't we, to supporting. The latest round of creative skills fund support—17 new projects to help with skills within the creative industry. We'll go on supporting the industry, and, as I've said, Esports Wales.”
“I’m afraid, Presiding Officer, the Member may be disappointed in my response, but with the Cabinet Secretary for finance sat in front of me, if I was prepared to make budget announcements on the floor of the Chamber before those discussions have finalised, and before the Cabinet Secretary has the opportunity to lay the draft budget to the Senedd, I think I’d find myself in all sorts of trouble, no doubt. But what you do have from me, and what you do have from the First Minister, is a First Minister who is committed to the industry, who understands the industry, as I do, in terms of the economic impact. So, when you talk about the arts sector, you’ll see the Arts Council of Wales report that of every £1 we spend, there's £2.51 back in the economy.”
“Diolch yn fawr, Llyr. You’re right, aren’t you, to point to the difficult circumstances the creative industries have found themselves in, and the arts and culture sector, and what they have found themselves—the challenges. But despite those challenges, they have still achieved all of the positive things that you recognise, and I think that is important—the importance of today’s statement, particularly for the creative industries. The focus of this statement is very much Wales on a global stage, sending the best of Wales internationally, and I think all of the work that they do is fantastic.”
“I think that that points to the real success of the commitment of this Welsh Government, and I was grateful to see the work of Hijinx in a recent visit too. Just to finally point to the Member’s contribution around zero-hours contracts, Presiding Officer—well, I will never, ever apologise for the UK Labour Government’s commitment to a plan to make work pay and the Employment Rights Bill. It is the single biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, and the banning of zero-hours contracts is the right thing to do, and I think that all Members should support that.”
“The Member speaks of the difficulties around venues. Well, through Music Venue Trust and the positive developments—. They purchased the Bunkhouse in Swansea through the Own Our Venues scheme, and I’m sure that there are more announcements to come from them. So, we are going on to support the industry. But as I said, Presiding Officer, this statement was about the creative industries. I visited Bad Wolf a few weeks ago with local councillors—Councillor Thomas and Councillor Stubbs—and it was clear that the opportunities created in the sector went far beyond just creative roles, pointing to the Member’s questions. There, I met young people from working-class communities, who were gaining experience in accounts, project management and even governance, including some of the other industries that the Member said.”
“To speak around some of the issues, on capital funding for Theatr Clwyd, Presiding Officer, in the Flintshire area, the Welsh Government has committed to over £23.5 million of capital funding over a number of years now—another success, another story where the Welsh Government supports this sector. And when it comes to the music venues issue, again, Presiding Officer, I had a great meeting, when I first took post, with UK Music about some of the issues that they face. But this morning, Presiding Officer, I met with the Music Venue Trust to discuss some of the important issues that they face, like the voluntary levy that will go to support smaller venues. I know that Mike Hedges has an interest in this issue, and it’s an interest that I have real issue—. I’m very supportive of that voluntary levy scheme.”
“I thank Joel James for that. Of all the positives of the statement, Presiding Officer, not much was focused on then from the Member, which I think reflects poorly on the contribution. But I take his points around the overall picture of the arts and culture sector. And to say, over the summer, in September, my predecessor sat in front of me, announced a further £5 million into the arts and culture sector. The Arts Council of Wales received £1.5 million of that, and I look forward to announcements from the Arts Council of Wales on where that money will go to directly support some of the arts and our culture sector, which the Member referred to in his contribution.”
“We have also proudly supported major international hits such as Sex Education and House of the Dragon , which have provided employment and training opportunities within Wales while showcasing our amazing locations to a global audience.”
“Latest figures show there are now 3,595 businesses operating in these industries, an increase of 11.8 per cent on the 2018 figures, well above the Welsh average during the same period. Creative Wales’s priority sectors are an important employer in Wales. The latest statistics show they provide jobs for some 35,100 people, with a significant freelance workforce on top. Our tv and film industry continues to perform well, delivering a turnover of £460 million to Wales during 2023. In the last year or so we have seen some brilliant productions such as Men Up , Lost Boys and Fairies and Pren ar y Bryn, all delivered by our thriving indigenous sector.”
“Alongside a range of other funds aimed at the screen, digital, gaming and music sectors, as well as support for the publishing industry through the Books Council of Wales, Creative Wales continues to work with our stakeholders to provide targeted investment for both home-grown business and international projects looking to locate in Wales. And we’re making progress: the latest statistics on the sectors supported by Creative Wales show that this part of the economy generated an annual turnover of £1.5 billion in 2023 alone. While some caution is needed when comparing the year-on-year figures, it is really encouraging to see this increase of over 10 per cent on the previous year. The number of businesses making up the creative sectors in Wales is also on the rise.”
“Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. We are rightly proud of our creative industries, which are recognised as one of Wales’s real success stories following over a decade of investment by the Welsh Government. Since its establishment in 2020, Creative Wales has been working hard to drive further growth in the creative sectors it supports. This work is not only critical to our economy, but it is also crucial to our culture, our language and to our well-being. During this period, Creative Wales has invested £26.5 million in production funding alone, supporting 47 projects with conditioned Welsh spend in excess of £313 million expected into the Welsh economy.”
“We must have a rugby union in Wales that is supportive of inclusive participation in the sport at whatever level and whatever game the players play. I'll repeat my disappointment about what's happened in the headlines. I hope that we can get to a better place. Of course, I'll bring forward a further statement to Members of this Senedd, and I'm happy to engage in those conversations with Members outside the Senedd because I recognise that this is a matter of importance to them, and I welcome the scrutiny on this issue as well.”
“As I said previously and in the statement, I'm keen to satisfy myself that a robust process will be in place to ensure those improvements to the processes within the WRU to ensure that the culture is changed to support a thriving and inclusive rugby union in Wales. And I want to have the confidence in that process. It's why I want to speak to the players; it's why I want to speak to the chair, the authors of the review; it's why I want to speak to Dame Rafferty around the oversight group and the recommendations, and it's why I'll be meeting with the chief executive and the chair again to discuss those actions, because they are important actions, as all Members who've contributed this afternoon have recognised.”
“Diolch yn fawr, Heledd. Again, I agree with the points that you've made this afternoon. As I said at the start, yes, I want rugby to thrive, Presiding Officer, but I will not be a bystander in this process. I thought it was important for me, at the first opportunity, to meet with the WRU on Monday, that I did meet with their chair, their chief executive and their executive director where I could express my disappointment to them, but remind them that—. You're right, the partnership that we have as a Government—. And we reminded them, in the renegotiation of their loan, that, particularly, workplace practices should be fair for all, both on and off the field. That remains the commitment of our side. It's the expectation I place not just on the WRU, but it's the expectation I place on all employers in Wales.”
“These women, Presiding Officer, have worked all their lives to get to the elite level of their sport. To represent their nation on the global stage is the very pinnacle of their careers, and to be treated in the way in which the players were during the contract negotiations is wholly unacceptable, and that's before we even consider the fact that a strict deadline was put into place. So, I've heard Heledd Fychan’s contribution to the Trefnydd yesterday during the business statement, and I agree with what the Member said during that statement and the request for a further statement from me, Presiding Officer. Once I've understood what is in the report from the WRU, once those meetings have taken place with the authors and the players themselves, then I will come back to the Senedd Chamber and update Members further.”
“I want to do that for two reasons, Presiding Officer: firstly, to get Dame Rafferty's view on where the WRU are up to in terms of changing the culture, the very much needed change of culture that was there a year ago, and the allegations in front of us again, and what further needs to be done and what support can be offered to the WRU to make sure that this does not happen again. I can't stress enough, Presiding Officer, my disappointment, as I said in the written statement on Monday, and I think, just going back to the clear importance and utmost importance in this of the players in the national team, what I find particularly distressing over the most recent period and allegations made in The Telegraph was the lack of acknowledgement of the power imbalance in this situation.”
“Can I thank Tom Giffard for contributing this afternoon? I think, Tom, it's important, isn't it, that we join forces politically in the Senedd and take action, and make sure that we call out this type of behaviour where we see it, and I thank Tom for doing that as well. The points the Member makes are important and valid points. I should stress, Presiding Officer, that the report on this allegation has not yet been fully published. I haven't seen the content within that report, but will be doing so in due course. I've asked to see the report; I want to understand the content of the report, but not just see that report—I want to meet with the authors of the report and also Dame Rafferty, who leads the work on the oversight group, which reflects the Member's point around the issues a year ago.”
“Presiding Officer, in closing, the players can do that either through the WRU themselves or directly to me, either themselves collectively or through their representative bodies, so it's a safe space where they feel comfortable sharing what they want to share with me, so that I have the full understanding of what action needs to take place. I should say, Presiding Officer, in all of this, we all want this issue to be addressed because we do in Wales want rugby to thrive in the future.”
“I take the Member's point around the men's team, and I'm sure many in this Chamber will feel the same way as she does and as I do, that the men's team would not have been treated in this way, with the prospect of not going to the world cup being an option on the negotiating table. That's why I'm seeking to meet with the authors of the review's report in due course, and indeed the players of the women's national team, and I'm seeking to do that in a space in which they feel comfortable and protected, and those meetings will take place in confidence.”
“Therefore, I have not had sight of the report, but I'm hoping to do so in the coming weeks to get a full picture and full understanding of what has taken place and what action needs to take place to address the issues, because I agree with Hannah Blythyn that words aren't enough. My view on any allegations of this nature is clear: the Welsh Government will not be a bystander to any form of sexism, bullying or abuse, and that women and girls should be and should feel safe in all aspects of their life, including in their workplace, and we expect the same level of commitment from all our partners and stakeholders and citizens in Wales, including the WRU. Presiding Officer, what's most important to me in this process is how the women themselves feel about this, and if they feel they have been treated differently.”
“I left them in no doubt of my disappointment that, once again, Welsh rugby was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, especially given the context of recent years. In my meeting with the WRU, and as Hannah Blythyn has pointed out already, it is clear that the WRU has already accepted some failings of the process and is looking for areas of improvement that need to be followed. The WRU themselves are looking to meet with the players to issue that apology, and, as I said again in my statement on Monday, the review of the process is taking place, and that report is yet to be published.”
“Presiding Officer, can I thank Hannah Blythyn for tabling this important question and for the way in which she contributed her supplementary question this afternoon? I think it's fair to say that all of us in this Chamber were shocked and saddened at last week's revelations in The Telegraph , and I join Hannah Blythyn in thanking in particular the players for having the courage to come forward too because of that process. As I set out in my statement on Monday to Members of the Senedd, Presiding Officer, I met with the WRU as a matter of urgency, following the media focus over the weekend on the allegations of sexism faced by the women's national team in their contract negotiations.”
“Thank you. I met with representatives of the WRU on Monday and issued a written statement later that afternoon. My aim now is to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the recent contract negotiations for women's players and how improvements to existing processes can be taken forward more positively in the future.”