Question
The Secretary of State did not mention the £14 billion that has been promised, or the £300 million for Leeds railway station. There are threats of cuts everywhere. The BBC has announced £9 million of cuts at BBC Cymru Wales, including 58 job losses. Twenty hours of programming, as well as radio shows such as “Dros Ginio” and “Ar y Marc”, will be axed, and Welsh production companies are raising the alarm about the impact of fewer commissions. We have had to fight hard for Welsh-language broadcasting. What is the Secretary of State doing, as Wales’s supposed man in the Cabinet, to protect jobs and safeguard our national media?
Answer
I am proud to be a strong voice for Wales in the Cabinet. Frankly, I find it shocking that those on the Opposition Benches think that Wales should not have a strong voice in the Cabinet. We are ready to work closely with the Welsh Government to ensure that our broadcasting industry, which we are very proud of, continues to go from strength to strength. I look forward to working with the right hon. Lady and other colleagues to achieve that objective.25% point-scoring 75% vibes
Verdict: RED (15/100)
The reply does not address the main concern in the question: the announced £9 million of cuts at BBC Cymru Wales and the 58 job losses. It makes no mention of protecting those jobs and talks instead about Wales's voice in Cabinet and general cooperation. The one point it touches, Welsh-language and national media provision, is covered only in vague terms, with no specific programmes or safeguards named. A member of the public would likely need to ask again for concrete answers on the BBC cuts.
Verdict: RED (15/100)
The reply does not address the main point of the question, which asked about the BBC Cymru Wales cuts of £9 million and the threatened job losses; it offers only general statements about Wales's voice in the Cabinet and a wish to work with the Welsh Government. On the second point, about protecting Welsh-language and national media output, it gives only a vague commitment to work together on the broadcasting industry, with no specific action and no mention of the programmes being axed. A member of the public would not get the specific information they asked for, and would likely need to ask again.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the Secretary of State doing to protect jobs at BBC Cymru Wales, following the announced £9 million of cuts and 58 job losses? | Not Addressed | Generic | The reply never mentions BBC Cymru Wales, the announced £9 million of cuts, the 58 job losses, or any action to protect jobs; its statements are about Wales's voice in Cabinet and general cooperation, with no engagement with the BBC. |
| What is the department doing about the threatened job losses at BBC Cymru Wales, following the announced £9 million of cuts? | Not Addressed | Generic | None of the statements mention BBC Cymru Wales, the £9 million cuts, or the threatened job losses; the reply offers only general pride in Wales's Cabinet voice and a vague wish to work with the Welsh Government on the broadcasting industry. |
| What is the Secretary of State doing to safeguard Welsh-language and national media provision, including the programming and radio shows to be axed and the impact on Welsh production companies? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | Statement 3 touches on the broadcasting industry and a readiness to work with the Welsh Government, but it names no Welsh-language or national media provision, no programmes or radio shows, and no concrete safeguard, so it only gestures at the item. |
| What is the department doing to safeguard Welsh-language and national media output, including the programmes that are to be axed? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | Statement 3 gestures at working with the Welsh Government to keep the broadcasting industry thriving, which touches on the topic, but it names no action to safeguard Welsh-language or national media output and does not mention the programmes being axed. |