Politics

Welsh publishers ‘facing existential crisis’

Published

2 years ago

October 20, 2024

WELSH publishers face an existential crisis following a decade of cuts, a committee heard.

Helgard Krause, chief executive of the Books Council of Wales, said cuts in the past year have made it difficult to operate after years of standstill funding.

She also pointed to production pressures with the cost of printed books rising significantly as she gave evidence to a Senedd culture committee inquiry on October 17.

Ms Krause raised concerns about a fall in the number of Welsh-medium books from 185 to 122 in the past decade, particularly in light of the target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050.

Giving evidence remotely from the Frankfurt book fair, she told the committee: “It feels counterintuitive that the thing to help with language skills, namely books, is being cut.”

Asked what would happen if similar cuts were repeated in the 2025/26 budget, Ms Krause stressed that the Books Council passes most of its funding onto the publishing industry.

“For some, the impact is fewer books – for others, it’s an existential crisis,” she said.

Ms Krause warned: “We’re at risk of losing publishers completely.”

She said the Books Council – which has annual revenue of about £3m, half of which comes from the Welsh Government – has sought to absorb cuts over the years by reducing staff.

“When I started seven years ago, there were 50 people working in the organisation,” she explained. “Now, we’re down to 36. This isn’t a proud record but that was the only way of how we’ve been able to cope with standstill funding.”

Ms Krause told the committee that unlike some other culture bodies, the Books Council has not received any extra in-year money from the Welsh Government.

Warning of uncertainty and people becoming more risk averse, she pointed out that not one project sponsored by the Books Council receives 100% of the funding it requires.

She raised concerns about new voices and opportunities for young people being lost.

Ms Krause said: “We are at risk of turning to the old regime where publishing was a little bit a gentleman’s occupation, namely those people who can afford to work in the area.”

She told the committee the profile of people working in the sector remains middle class.

She warned: “We have made some inroads but, when money is scarce and salaries are stagnant, that’s the pernicious impact and we will see this problem in ten years’ time.”

Calling for a ten-year strategic intervention to make Wales a reading nation, Ms Krause urged the Welsh Government to adopt international examples of best practices.

Ms Krause said she supported the principle of the Arts Council’s calls for culture and the arts to become a statutory responsibility.

But she pointed out that libraries are already a statutory duty, yet “we’re losing, across Britain, or have done, thousands of libraries in the last decade”.

She cautioned that the Libraries Act is phrased loosely enough for councils to absolve themselves from responsibilities of providing a library service.

Ms Krause sympathised with the need to protect core services like health and education but she said culture can make a significant contribution to both.

She said: “It is cuts on top of a decade of austerity that makes this such an existential issue.”

Ashley Drake, acting chair of Publishing Wales, which represents publishers, said grant funding fell by about 8% in 2023/24 then a further 10% in 2024/25.

In a letter to the committee, he wrote: “Our understanding is another significant cut is being discussed for 2025/26. Three consecutive cuts on the back of a decade or more of standstill budgets will be catastrophic…. It would signal nothing less than an existential crisis.”

Seren, the independent Bridgend-based publisher, warned the industry faces a real threat.

Bronwen Price, chief executive, and Duncan Campbell, chair, wrote: “As it stands, we are rapidly heading towards a tough decision: either we slash costs and therefore strip out everything that makes Seren Books what it is or face the prospect of closing for good.

“Were that to happen, Wales would lose its last standing significant English language publisher.. It would lose the major societal, economic, cultural, environmental and wellbeing contribution Seren Books makes and will make for future generations.”

News

Stephen Kinnock appointed Secretary of State for Wales in Burnham Cabinet reshuffle

Published

15 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Stephen Kinnock has been named the new Secretary of State for Wales after Prime Minister Andy Burnham unveiled his first Cabinet reshuffle, replacing Jo Stevens following two years in the post.

The appointment comes as the new Prime Minister continues to shape his government after entering Downing Street, with the Wales Office among a number of departments seeing changes at ministerial level.

Mr Kinnock, the Labour MP for Aberafan Maesteg, takes over responsibility for representing Welsh interests at the Cabinet table and overseeing the UK Government’s relationship with the Welsh Government.

The 55-year-old has served in Parliament since 2015 and has held a number of ministerial positions. Before joining the Cabinet, he served as a minister in both the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care, where he was involved in immigration, public health and NHS-related policy.

He is also well known as the son of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, one of Wales’ most prominent political figures, and former European Commissioner Glenys Kinnock.

Mr Kinnock replaces Jo Stevens, who has served as Secretary of State for Wales since 2024. During her tenure she worked on issues including economic investment, the transition to green energy, rail infrastructure and cooperation between the UK and Welsh Governments.

The change follows Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s first Cabinet reshuffle since taking office, with several senior ministerial appointments announced as he begins setting out the priorities of his new administration.

As Secretary of State for Wales, Mr Kinnock will be expected to play a key role in discussions over economic growth, energy, transport, the future of the steel industry, and constitutional matters affecting Wales. He is also likely to be heavily involved in negotiations between Westminster and Cardiff Bay as the Burnham Government develops its agenda.

His appointment will be closely watched across Wales, including in Pembrokeshire, where businesses, local authorities and public services will be looking for signs of how the new Government intends to deliver on its promises for investment, infrastructure and economic development.

Further announcements on the new Government’s programme are expected in the coming days.

News

Pembrokeshire households set for £45 electricity bill saving after VAT cut

Published

15 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Henry Tufnell welcomes Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s first cost-of-living measure, which will remove VAT from domestic electricity bills from October

HOUSEHOLDS across Pembrokeshire are expected to save around £45 a year after Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that VAT will be removed from domestic electricity bills.

The UK-wide tax cut will reduce the VAT rate on household electricity from 5% to zero from October 1, in time to be reflected in the next Ofgem energy price cap.

The Government says energy suppliers will be expected to pass the full reduction on to customers, including households on fixed-price tariffs.

Henry Tufnell, Labour MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, welcomed the announcement and said rising energy costs had placed considerable pressure on families across the county.

Mr Tufnell said: “I know just how hard it’s been for so many people across Pembrokeshire struggling with high energy bills.

“It is fantastic to see immediate action from our new Prime Minister, focused on making life easier for people in Pembrokeshire.

“Cutting VAT on electricity will bring welcome relief to local families and shows that we have a Labour government on our side, taking swift action to ease the cost of living.”

The measure is one of the first policy announcements made by Mr Burnham since entering Downing Street.

Speaking on his second day as Prime Minister, Mr Burnham said the tax reduction was intended to provide households with immediate “breathing space” ahead of the winter.

He said: “Westminster has not been working for people for too long, with families struggling with the cost of living.

“That needs to change. I said I wanted to give people breathing space, and that’s what I’m announcing on my second day as Prime Minister.

“We’re taking immediate action to cut taxes on energy bills, put more money in people’s pockets and bring back hope.”

The Government estimates that removing VAT will reduce the annual Ofgem price cap by approximately £45 from October.

Ministers say this will be in addition to the £150 reduction in energy costs announced at the previous Budget.

Although the saving will apply across the UK, it could be particularly welcome in rural areas such as Pembrokeshire, where many households face additional transport, housing and heating costs.

The Government says the VAT reduction will initially be funded through the cancellation of the planned £1.8 billion Digital ID programme.

The electricity tax cut is expected to cost approximately £850 million during the 2026-27 financial year, although updated estimates will be published at the Budget.

Chancellor John Healey said: “For too long, too many people have struggled with the cost of living.

“Today’s energy tax cut will give families some breathing room on bills and provide some reassurance this winter.

“This measure is funded this year from cancelling the Digital ID programme, and it will help bring down inflation while supporting households in every postcode.”

Ministers estimate that the VAT cut could reduce CPI inflation by around 0.1 percentage points.

The relief will also apply to some small businesses that qualify for domestic energy VAT rates but are not VAT registered, along with eligible charities and residential care homes.

Further decisions on longer-term support for energy bills are expected to be announced alongside the Budget and an updated forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Local History

St Dogmaels chapel empty since 1993 to become home

Published

21 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS to convert a former Pembrokeshire chapel, empty for more than three decades, to a home have been approved.

In an application submitted to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, through agent Preseli Planning Ltd, Chris Jones and Sarah Lloyd sought permission for a change of use of the former Capel Bryn Salem chapel, Cippyn, St Dogmaels, to a dwelling, along with the installation of private foul water system and associated works.

The 1850-built independent chapel, some 1.5km from Poppit Sands, had fallen into disuse by 1993, but remains in a “generally intact and in a sound condition,” a supporting statement says.

It added: “Based on the fact that the building has been disused for at least 32 years it can be concluded that there is no longer a community need for the facility.”

The statement went on to say: “The building is largely intact, and the proposal mirrors its existing form. The scheme is sympathetic to the character and appearance of the existing building and would include comparatively minor works of re-roofing (maintaining the existing pitch and appearance).”

It finished: “It has been demonstrated that the retention of the building for community or commercial uses would not be viable. The proposed dwelling would contribute to the housing stock and accord with the strategy of the LDP2, to prioritise open market housing over holiday accommodation.

“The proposal would also contribute towards the provision of affordable housing through a commuted sum in line [with adopted policy].

“Furthermore, the proposed scheme is sympathetic to the character and appearance of the building and its setting and results in an appropriate and attractive form of development.”

The application was supported by St Dogmaels Community Council but concerns by members of the public were raised including the suitability of the existing access track and bridleway to serve a residential building and other access and highways issues, as well as impacts on neighbours and the effect of the proposal on the historic character of the former chapel and the surrounding landscape and potential land ownership issues.

An officer report recommending approval said: “During the determination of the application, amended plans and additional supporting information were submitted, including a revised Transport Management Plan, amended access arrangements, additional passing opportunities, ecological information and revised drainage details. These amendments were subject to further consultation.”

It added: “Whilst officers acknowledge the concerns expressed by neighbouring residents, matters relating to private legal rights, ownership of land, easements and other civil matters fall outside the remit of the planning system.”

The application was conditionally approved.