The Faenol Festival in Bangor, Gwynedd, which is organised by opera star Bryn Terfel, will receive the money over the next three years. It comes after the Arts Council of Wales (ACW) cut grants to several arts organisations.

The fairness of the funding has been questioned by some assembly members. But the assembly government insisted the festival was one of a number of events being supported that would promote culture, stimulate business growth, and enhance communities.

The funding decision was made by Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones after the Faenol Festival was cancelled last year due to financial problems.

North Wales Liberal Democrat AM Eleanor Burnham said there were “many interesting questions” to ask about it.

She said: “There are several doubts because the process has been long winded for those other groups, many of whom have been rejected through the Arts Council process.

“Then suddenly, interestingly and overnight, there is some more money, a considerable amount of money, found from another pot for a separate organisation.”

She added that the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, of which she is an honorary president, “could have really relished” a similar funding award to that received by the Faenol Festival.

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They say that the subsidy for new operator Manx2 is a commercial secret, even though the sum paid to the previous operator was made public. It seems that the subsidy paid will depend on how much of Manx2’s costs are covered from ticket revenue.
Thus if travellers are deterred from booking because of the possibility of volcanic ash disrupting aviation over the months ahead, taxpayers could effectively end up paying for empty seats on the flights.

The Western Mail reveals other commercial contracts where the amount of subsidy has been revealed by the Welsh Government and argue that the new air service should not be exempt from such transparency. They point out that officials have disclosed the subsidy for other transport services, including annual payments of £1.7m for the “Gerallt Gymro” rail service between Holyhead and Cardiff and £720,000 for TrawsCambria long-distance buses. They also disclosed the subsidy for Highland Airways – £800,000 per year – to operate North-South flights, and its £400,000 annual payments to Anglesey council for operating the civilian air terminal at Valley.

North Wales Liberal Democrat AM, Eleanor Burnham agrees with the thrust of the Western Mail’s argument. She said: “Now we’re in a time of absolute austerity, we need to know we’re getting value for money. Why don’t they spend the money on transport which everybody can benefit from instead of the few in Anglesey and the north of Gwynedd?”

She described the Assembly Government’s explanation for keeping the subsidy secret as “codswallop”. “It’s pathetic. We pride ourselves on trying to be open and transparent but here we have a closed and secret deal, which gives you cause for concern that it’s costing more than they want you to know.”

She suspected Manx2 would receive a higher subsidy per month than Highland Airways received, and questioned the wisdom of starting a new air contract before the threat of volcanic ash disruption had passed.

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The money will fund schemes in Swansea Bay, Pembrokeshire and Gwynedd and will include three new visitor centres, including one at Aberdaron on the Llŷn Peninsula and new facilities at Dale, Porthgain and Coppett Hall in Pembrokeshire.

Ministers said the centres will provide top-class, environmentally friendly facilities for people to enjoy the coast by foot or water and experience water sports.

However, the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Tories have accused the Plaid Cymru and Labour ministers of using their roles in the assembly government to try and influence voters in the run-up to the May 6 election.

Welsh Liberal Democrat heritage spokeswoman Eleanor Burnham said: “While this money for coastal tourism projects is welcomed, the timing of this announcement is blatant electioneering from the Labour-Plaid government.

“Their votes cannot be bought by electioneering stunts like this.”

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The decision follows a consultation looking at, for example, trials where large amounts of evidence are in Welsh.

It has been met with dismay by politicians who believed it could play a part in an increase in bilingualism in Wales.

Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Heritage Minister said:

“This a clear set-back for the promotion of the Welsh language as one of the official languages of Wales. People should have the right to be tried in front of bilingual juries.

“The 1993 Welsh Language Act makes clear reference to Welsh and English having equal treatment when administrating justice in Wales. If we are to have a truly bilingual nation, the Welsh language should be treated on an equal basis in all aspects of Welsh life.”

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“It is absolutely despicable and shameful that children are living in poverty in 21st century Wales. What is even worse is that we have the highest rate of children living in severe poverty in the UK. I fear that as the ongoing economic downturn continues, many more children will be living in poverty.

“Children living in poverty start life on the wrong foot and as a Liberal Democrat committed to fairness, I find it abhorrent that the Labour-Plaid government in Cardiff and Labour government in Westminster are failing to meet their 2010 target of halving child poverty.

“The Labour UK Government is key to tackling child poverty, as it has the direct economic levers available to eradicate child poverty. One of the main priorities for the Liberal Democrats is to give children a fair start in life by directing money at children from poorer and disadvantaged backgrounds. Our tax plans will also bring thousands of households out of paying income tax and make it easier for thousands more to make it to the end of the month.

“Economic poverty among children leads to a poverty of goals and ambitions which damages our whole nation and it continues the vicious cycle of families living in poverty from one generation to the next. This vicious circle must be broken. Child poverty is social injustice at its worst.”

Jenny Willott, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central and Member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, also commented:

“It is appalling that while Wales has half the number of children in Scotland, there are more children living in extreme poverty in Wales.

“Labour’s complex tax and benefit system means that for many it simply does not pay to work. There are more children living in low income households with a working adult than ever before.

“Labour’s tax policies have completely failed nearly 100,000 Welsh children. But the Tories tax plans would make things even worse.

“Tory tax breaks for couples where one adult works full time, would do nothing for the vast majority of children in poverty, especially working single parents, those working part-time or couples where both work. It will be so small, it won’t make any difference.

“We need a fundamental reform of the tax system if we are to tackle the rising levels of extreme child poverty in Wales. The Liberal Democrats would reform the system so people pay nothing on the first £10,000 they earn.

“This would mean over 220,000 people in Wales would pay no tax whatsoever. It would also cut the tax bill for 840,000 low and middle income earners by up to £700 a year.”

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“These appalling new figures show that excess winter deaths for Wales in the period 2008/09 went up from 1440 to 2500 – a shocking increase of 70% on the previous year.

“The number of older people dying in Wales between the months of December and March has almost doubled. It is yet another shocking indictment of the Labour-Plaid government’s failure to grasp the nettle.

“Age Concern and Help the Aged have called it a “national scandal” and I agree with them.

“Today in the Siambr I called on the Leader of the House to arrange an urgent debate on the increases in excess winter deaths. I’m sorry to say that he didn’t even know about the new figures.

“This is a very serious issue to many people in Wales, including my own constituents across North Wales, and I expect the Labour-Plaid government to shoulder its responsibilities to the people who elected them”.

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Eleanor, Welsh Lib Dem Spokesperson for Communities, Culture and Equality said, “This is a rather intriguing decision. Just last week the Minister was telling the Welsh Affairs Select Committee that Wales will be losing funding of around £100m because of the 2012 Olympics. Coupled with the credit crunch this is now an extremely testing time for arts, sport and culture in general.

“There is also a perception that a disproportionate amount of money is being given to Cardiff and the south whilst other, often smaller, established events are gradually disappearing. The recent difficulties experienced by the Brecon Jazz Festival are just one example. I would not like to see projects like the Millennium Centre being funded at the direct expense of local festivals because of the government’s budgetary squeezes.

“As a past member of the Audit Committee I welcome the review of the Centre’s financial requirements. Whether the Arts Council or the Welsh Assembly Government shoulder the eventual responsiblility for the Centre, the final decision must ensure a sustainable future for the arts in Wales.”

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