Meetings

In light of the fact that Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee will be monitoring further progress in relation to funding and delivery of music education services, following their previous report on this subject, the Committee agreed to share the petitioner’s further comments with them, close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered further correspondence and agreed to write to the Chair of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee to provide the information received to date and ask whether that Committee would consider it as part of any further work it intends to conduct in this area.

The Committee considered further correspondence and agreed to:

·         write again to the Music Education Council and the Welsh Local Government Association to seek responses and, in the case of the latter, information about the distribution of previous funding provided to local authorities;

·         write back to the Minister for Education to seek further information about what has caused the delays in commissioning and receiving the feasibility study report; and

·         inquire with the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee about any intentions it has to follow up their previous inquiry on this subject.

Mike Hedges declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

His daughter is involved with a number of choirs.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to:

·         await the publication of the Welsh Government’s feasibility study into options for delivery of music services and a National Plan for Music Education; and

·         write to the Wels Local Government Association and the Music Education Council to seek their views on the issues raised by the petition and the current provision of music education and music education services.