Praised after the first time
FIRST Minister Mark Drakeford has refused to commit to giving £59m to Wales’ struggling arts sector as a support package.
Mr Drakeford said the Welsh Government would decide how any additional money is spent only after UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak gives his summer economic update this week.
The sum was triggered by the UK Government’s announcement of a £1.57bn support package for the UK arts sector, including museums, galleries, theatres and music venues.
But on Monday, Mr Drakeford said he would wait to assess whether other areas of Wales’ funding were to be affected following Mr Sunak’s speech to Parliament.
“I want to wait until we see the whole package, then Cabinet will sit down, knowing how much money we have at our disposal, and attend to the many demands there are for help here in Wales, including help that is needed by the arts sector,” he told the Welsh Government’s daily press briefing.
He added: “When the UK Government announces a headline figure, what they very often don’t tell us is what is new money, and what is money that they are simply recycling from existing budgets.
“There was an announcement about a week ago of money for tutoring in the education service. It turned out when we looked at it that most of that money wasn’t new at all, it was just money they were reimbursing from their own budgets.
“It’s why I’m reluctant today to commit to saying anything on the £59m, because so easily on Wednesday we could learn that we are losing money from other changes made at Whitehall and there won’t be £59m after all.” tumn orOwinter. concerns that undiagn Friday before the
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The First Minister also screenings are resuming, Centre in Cardiff having reiterated that cancer he said. cancelled all shows until services are resuming in April 2021 – putting 250 Wales, as he answered
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