, Deputy Minister for Arts,
Sport and Tourism
We created an expert panel on broadcasting and communications in
2022, in response to a commitment in the Co-operation Agreement
between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru. The panel published
its report A new future for
broadcasting and communications in Wales in August 2023,
following extensive engagement and research.
We have carefully considered the panel’s report and findings, and
I would like to thank the panel once again for its work. We are
committed to pursuing the devolution of powers over
communications and broadcasting to Wales but recognise it will
require the legislative and financial support of UK Government.
There are significant practical considerations arising from the
panel’s central recommendation to establish a Shadow Broadcasting
and Communications Authority, particularly in relation to longer
term funding and its powers. However, there is now a growing body
of evidence, which demonstrates that the current situation in
Wales is unsustainable. These include the Institute of Welsh
Affairs’ Broadcasting Regulation in Wales reports and the
Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales’
recent report. We note in particular the commission’s
recommendation that “robust work should continue on potential
routes to devolution”.
In keeping with the view of the expert panel, and the growing
body of independent evidence, we believe action is needed to
protect public broadcasting and to improve the overall media
environment in Wales. We need to ensure that Wales has a stronger
voice and is not left behind as broadcasting and the wider media
sector undergoes rapid change.
We have therefore agreed to establish a Broadcasting and
Communications Advisory Body to provide guidance on broadcasting
and communications, to inform policy in Wales as well as
navigating the many changes on the horizon.
The body will aim to include representatives from key stakeholder
bodies in its make up, ensure regular, reliable advice is
available to the Welsh Government in a rapidly evolving sector,
provide advice on efforts to strengthen the media in Wales and
make recommendations about how those efforts could be brought
together.
This approach, aligned to the aspirations set out in the
Co-operation Agreement, will help to strengthen relationships
with key stakeholder bodies and provide independent challenge and
oversight to provide a stronger voice for the people of Wales.
The body will advise on taking forward targeted approaches and
improve accountability, will aim to further strengthen the
relationship with Ofcom at a Wales and UK level and will aim to
consider how its regulation role could be contributing to the
strengthening of Welsh democracy. It will explore what an
effective future governance structure for S4C may look like and
how it may be brought about, as well as suggesting similar
made-in-Wales opportunities for other broadcasters, and advise
the Welsh Government accordingly.
Finally, it will aim to explore plans
for an alternative broadcasting and communications framework if
broadcasting were to be devolved and will keep the case for the
establishment of a Broadcasting and Communications Authority for
Wales in the future under review.
Through the Co-operation Agreement, I am continuing to engage
about the detailed arrangements for the new body, including its
membership, and I will provide a further update to Members in the
near future.
