Written Statement in response to the Culture, Welsh Language and Sport Committee’s Report into the ‘Welsh Writing in English’ review

Purpose: To present the Welsh Assembly Government’s response to the Culture, Welsh Language and Sport Committee’s Report into the ‘Welsh Writing in English’ review.

Responses to the Report’s recommendations are set out below. The recommendations follow the Report’s headings and numbering.


Chapter 2: Support for Welsh Writing in English

New Writing - The Committee recommends that:

There should be an increase in the publishing grant to the Welsh Books Council to address weaknesses in the infrastructure of publishing houses in Wales. This would include funds for:
 commissioning grants for the production of books of popular appeal in English;
 editorial posts;
 marketing posts and marketing budget; and
 the Joint Marketing Strategy.


1. Accept. The Assembly Government shares the Committee’s view that the infrastructure of the publishing industry needs to be strengthened if Welsh writing in English is to develop and thrive.  This is the Assembly Government’s key funding priority, and will help to ensure that many of the other issues and recommendations in the Committee’s report are addressed in the longer term.  Developing the infrastructure will require medium to long-term investment by the Assembly Government, to enable publishers to produce Welsh books in English which can be geared at meeting market demands, and eventually enable them to produce books which create new market demands for Welsh writing in English.  
2. The Assembly Government will provide additional support for the commissioning of books of popular appeal, and funding will also be set aside to market Welsh writing in English more vigorously.  Additional funding will also be used to support editorial and marketing posts in publishing houses, thus allowing them to increase their editorial capacity and become more effective in meeting market demands.
3. Financial implications: Yes.  The Assembly Government is providing an additional £250k within the current financial year to start implementing the various recommendations within the Assembly Government’s response, including supporting new writing and strengthening the infrastructure.

Writers on Tour - The Committee recommends that:

 Consideration should be given to increasing funding for the Writers on Tour scheme, to support in particular, more visits to schools.


4. Reject. The Welsh Assembly Government recognises and acknowledges the contribution that the Writers on Tour scheme makes in relation to developing writers and providing education about writing in Wales.  However, the Assembly Government does not believe that this successful scheme is a key priority for any additional funding.        
5. Financial implications: None

Classic Works - The Committee recommends that:

 The Committee supports the concept of a Library of Wales for classic works and recommends it be given further consideration.


6. Accept. The Welsh Assembly Government supports the idea of a Library of Wales of classic works, and believes this will provide a significant boost to the teaching, scholarship and readership of Welsh writing in English. A Library of Wales for classic texts will play a major role in raising awareness and interest in the distinctive English language culture of Wales.  All schools and educational establishments in Wales will receive a complimentary set of the Library of Wales. The Assembly Government will now develop more detailed proposals on the implementation of this project.
7. Financial implications:  Yes.  The Assembly Government is providing an additional £250k within the current financial year to start implementing the various recommendations within the Assembly Government’s response, including work on establishing the Library of Wales project.

Chapter 3: Marketing Awareness

Joint Marketing Strategy - The Committee recommends that:

 The Joint Marketing Strategy proposals should be costed and further refined by the Welsh Books Council and its partners with a view to it being implemented in the near future.


8. Accept. In 2002, the Task and Finish Group on Publishing, chaired by the then Deputy Culture Minister, Delyth Evans identified the need for an industry-wide joint marketing strategy.  The Assembly Government asked the Welsh Books Council (WBC) to co-ordinate efforts to produce such a strategy, working with representatives of publishing in both English and Welsh, including trade members, libraries and authors' groups.  The strategy therefore reflects the views of the industry as a whole.  The strategy was the subject of a consultation exercise in late 2003.  

9. As part of the WBC’s remit letter for 2004-05 the Assembly Government has asked the WBC to work with the industry to prioritise and cost the strategy.
10. Financial implications: None during this financial year. The Assembly Government will need to consider the costed and prioritised Strategy carefully before coming to any decision on additional funding.

Bookshops - The Committee recommends that:

 Discussions should continue with the major book retailers in Wales on the promotion of Welsh writing in English.

 This should be supported by hard evidence in the form of data on the sales of Welsh writing in English.


11. Accept. The promotion of Welsh writing in English, particularly in relation to effective product placement and due prominence within book shops, is of vital importance.  Major book retailers in Wales have a crucial role to play in promoting Welsh writing in English, and I am therefore very encouraged by WHSmith’s recent initiatives.  It is important that we build on this and I have asked the WBC to continue their work in this area.
12. I will also be asking organisations in the cultural sector which are funded by the Welsh Assembly Government to ensure that all retail outlets for which they are responsible give prominence to Welsh books in both languages and work closely with the WBC to improve and develop their stock of Welsh writing in English.
13. Accept. Data on the sales of Welsh writing in English should be available where public money is involved.  The Welsh Books Council already collects data on those titles which receive funding from one of the Council’s grant programmes, and data is also available on sales from the WBC’s Distribution Centre as well as its Gwales website.  I will ask the Welsh Books Council to explore whether there are other methods for collecting data on the sales of Welsh writing in English.
14. Financial implications: None.  

Libraries - The Committee recommends that:

 Data should be collected on the number of Welsh titles written in English in stock, annual additions and numbers borrowed, as is done for Welsh language works.

 Library authorities in conjunction with the Welsh Books Council, should consider ways of improving the sourcing and purchasing of Welsh writing in English.

 Library authorities should showcase Welsh writing in English in their libraries in order to encourage readership and demand.


15. Accept. There is no specific collection of library data on Welsh writing in English.  I will ask CyMAL to work with the Society of Chief Librarians to consider the feasibility of implementing a system for monitoring the movement of stock of Welsh writing in English in public libraries.  CyMAL will also look at ways of collecting sample data from other types of libraries, for example libraries in school and higher educational establishments.

16. Accept. CyMAL will, in conjunction with the Society of Chief Librarians and the Welsh Books Council, consider ways of improving the current arrangements for sourcing Welsh writing in English.
17. Accept. Libraries are looking at ways of improving the display and promotion of their book stock. One example of how this work is currently being developed is the Wales arts lottery-funded programme, Estyn Allan/Branching Out. This operates in all library authority areas in Wales and is concerned with developing readership. This is a three-year Welsh lottery arts initiative to promote reader development. It runs schemes specifically targeted at promoting books from Wales and books of Welsh interest. It also runs training schemes for librarians on improving the promotion and showcasing of books, as well as schemes to establish reading groups. Estyn Allan has been working in conjunction with the WBC to ensure that Welsh writing in English forms a constituent part of these schemes. Estyn Allan and the Welsh Books Council have also organised numerous events where publishers have the opportunity to meet with librarians.

 18. Financial implications: No immediate financial implications.

Literary Review - The Committee recommends that:

 The Committee welcomes the Arts Council of Wales initiative, in conjunction with the Welsh Books Council and the Academi to address the poor lack of serious literary reviews in newspapers in Wales.  It recommends that the media in Wales should also consider introducing coverage of works of merit and interest.

 The Committee wish to encourage the media to be more proactive in seeking works from writers from Wales for production on both radio and television.


19. Accept.  The Assembly Government agrees with both of the above recommendations.  It is important to have coverage and reviews of Welsh books in English in the mainstream media in Wales and beyond in order to raise awareness of this kind of writing.  It is also important that works from writers in Wales feature as productions on both radio and television.  The Assembly Government believes that addressing the fundamental weaknesses underlying the publishing industry in Wales will contribute towards the increased coverage of Welsh writing in English in the media, and also contribute to seeing more works from writers from Wales being produced on both radio and television.
20. Financial implications: None.

Book Awards - The Committee recommends that:
                       
 The value of the Book of the Year prize should be enhanced and should be subject to much more vigorous promotion both before and during the award ceremony.

 The Welsh Books Council should take the lead in developing a set of awards to recognise achievements and encourage excellence in the publishing industry e.g. awards for bestsellers, best cover, best editor, best publisher of the year.

 Consideration should be given to promoting Welsh writing in English not only at the Hay Festival for the Book of the Year, but also at other festivals and events throughout Wales.


21. Accept.  The Assembly Government believes that the Book of the Year prize has an important role to play in raising awareness and promoting the readership of high-quality Welsh titles.  However, the value of the Book of the Year award has recently increased to £5,000, and the Academi has a specific budget to market the event. The Assembly Government will wish to evaluate the success of these new arrangements before considering any increase in funding
22. Accept. The Assembly Government supports the establishment of a set of awards to recognise achievements and promote excellence in the publishing industry, and I will ask the WBC to start work on their establishment.  
23. Accept.  The WBC maintains a presence at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, the National Eisteddfod and the Urdd Eisteddfod, and will continue to promote Welsh writing in English at these festivals and also look to increase and develop its presence in Hay. I will ask the WBC to review their attendance at events throughout the year in light of the Committee’s comments.
24. Financial implications: Yes.  The Assembly Government is providing an additional £250k within the current financial year to start implementing the various recommendations within the Assembly Government’s response, including the establishment of a set of industry awards.
Tourism - The Committee recommends that:

 The Committee urges the regional tourism agencies to do more to showcase works both about Wales and also its writers in its tourist centres.
 This should be supported by relevant links with the gwales.com site.
 The production of a literary map of Wales should be explored.
25. Accept. The Assembly Government agrees that tourism agencies and information centres have a role to play in drawing attention to Welsh literature and works by writers in Wales that are appropriate for the visitor market, thus helping to create an unique sense of place.  Decisions on the management of stock are made by the individual managing authorities and most Tourist Information Centres in Wales already stock books about Wales and literature of local relevance. The Wales Tourist Board (WTB) will convey the Committee's views on this matter to the relevant managing authorities across Wales.  

26. Accept. The WTB will investigate the possibility of linking the literature section of their visitwales.com website, which provides general information on some of Wales's most famous writers, to the Welsh Books Council's website gwales.com, which provides information on current book titles, and enables the purchase of books online.  The WTB website already includes a 'Literary Wales' itinerary.

27. Accept. At least one of the regions of Wales already promotes its literary links; Regional Tourism Partnership south west Wales runs a marketing campaign entitled Writers' Routes, which it promotes in the UK and overseas. Hay on Wye/Blaenavon booktowns in South East Wales also have strong literary flavour. The Wales Tourist Board has already published a Literary Wales map. The Wales Tourist Board will investigate the possibility of updating and relaunching the current literary map of Wales, as they consider their marketing priorities for the coming year. However, this would have to be weighed up against all other marketing priorities and resourced accordingly.

28. Financial implications. None

Chapter 4: Education

Curricular and Examination Policy - The Committee recommends that:

 ACCAC’S remit should be extended to commissioning Welsh writing in English (including drama) for the WJEC curriculum.



29. Reject.  The availability of books for study as part of GCSE and A level courses is not a separate issue from the broader issues raised by the committee in its report.  Our proposal for a Library of Wales and the commissioning of new writing will materially improve the availability of books of relevance to schools.

30. The National Curriculum Programme of Study for English at all four Key Stages already requires that pupils should read works of Welsh writing in English.  The choice of books is left to teachers’ professional judgement.  Similarly, the WJEC’s GCSE English qualification requires candidates assessed under the requirements for Wales to study writing of Welsh relevance, with the choice of text at the centre’s discretion.

31. There are three broad types of text implied by the recommendation: (a) new writing; (b) classic works and other previously published texts, and (c) volumes intended primarily for use in schools, such as 'study editions' or anthologies.

32. The availability of books of types (a) and (b) depends on the functioning of the books market as a whole. The committee has made specific recommendations elsewhere in its report about this. In both cases (i.e. in respect of new writing and previously published texts) it is obviously true that if these works were more readily available in print within the books market, they would thereby also be available for purchase and use by schools. However, ACCAC is not an appropriate agency to be charged with bringing about these general improvements in the books market.

33. In relation to books of type (c), we believe that the production of school-specific texts is a lesser priority than the central question of the availability of Welsh writing in English to all readers.

34. Financial implications: None.

Further and Higher Education - The Committee recommends that:

 Further consideration should be given to the proposal for a Higher Education network of interlinked research centres for Welsh writing in English.


35. Accept. Reaching Higher sets the Assembly Government’s vision and strategy for the higher education sector in Wales.  A central objective is increased collaboration between institutions.  Reconfiguration is central to the long term success and competitiveness of the sector.  Institutions have been asked to develop collaborative proposals suited to their local circumstances and need, but with the objective of reducing costs, generating income and building capacity.  The Assembly Government has made substantial additional investment available to the sector to support reconfiguration and collaboration.  Were the sector to develop a substantive proposal for a network of research centres for Welsh writing in English, then the proposal could be considered for funding under Reaching Higher funds and against these criteria.

36. Financial implications: No new financial implications.  Reaching Higher funds are available to support collaborative proposals from the HE sector.