We’re delighted that the plans to make cuts of more than 10% to the Welsh Books Council have been scrapped after protests from Welsh- and English-language writers.

More than 500 authors wrote to the Welsh Assembly, as did publishers, to explain the devastating impact the cuts – more than twice those proposed for other cultural organisations – would have. The SoA lent its support to the campaign.

Yesterday (20 January) the Wales deputy culture minister Ken Skates said that the proposed cut to WBC funding (the equivalent of £374,000) would not take place because of the objections.

Kathryn Gray, poet and signatory said she ‘expected a good response regarding this letter and the campaign, but I’ve been overwhelmed by the depth of passionate feeling.’