PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Media: Employment (13 July 2020)

The UK Government recognises the impact of Covid-19 on the Welsh media sector and has taken unprecedented action to protect Welsh jobs, with 378,400 jobs supported by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and £289m provided to support 108,000 self-employed people.

The UK Government recognises the huge contribution that the media sector makes to the Welsh economy and cultural life, and the important role it has played throughout lockdown in providing an invaluable source of information and entertainment.

The Welsh Government will benefit from an extra £59m Barnett funding announced as part of the UK Government’s major £1.57 billion support package for the arts, museums, heritage sectors, music venues and independent cinemas to help them through the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales and I have been in regular contact with stakeholders across the media sector in Wales throughout the outbreak and will continue to engage closely as the sector helps lead Wales’ recovery.