WRU: New guidance for ministers after sexism scandal

Dawn Bowden says the Welsh government will "keep its procedures under review"

Ministers say significant changes have been made to the way they deal with inappropriate behaviour allegations at bodies receiving Welsh government cash, following the WRU sexism scandal.

It follows criticism of how the sports minister handled allegations of sexual harassment at the Welsh Rugby Union.

Dawn Bowden says she did not act when concerns were raised with her because she lacked the details she needed.

A new panel of civil servants will now advise ministers in such situations.

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A review published last November found sexism, misogyny, racism and homophobia was not properly challenged in the WRU, following a BBC Wales Investigates programme earlier in the year which highlighted the behaviour.

But months before the programme was broadcast Labour Gower MP Ms Antoniazzi wrote to Ms Bowden raising concerns.

The minister maintains that she did not receive any details of the nature of the concerns of those making complaints, nor any statements from them.

An investigation by a senior civil servant, whose findings were published last month, found Ms Bowden was "not totally correct" in comments she made in a BBC Wales interview defending her lack of action, but that she had not broken the ministerial code.

The code sets out the rules on now ministers conduct themselves.

The WRU has said the "vast majority" of the recommendations of the report into its culture will be implemented by the end of 2024

Now, in a letter to the chair of the Senedd's culture and sports committee, Delyth Jewell, Ms Bowden says: "While we have certainly investigated where such concerns have been raised in the past, the new guidance is more detailed, strengthens the approach and will act as a reminder to grant officers throughout the Welsh government of the process which should be followed."

Officials who will sit on the new External Assurance Panel will also advise on concerns raised over inappropriate behaviour in organisations not funded by the Welsh government.

"We will issue internal guidance to ministers and civil servants that, if they are approached or become aware of concerns raised over inappropriate behaviour in an organisation which is not funded by the Welsh government then they should seek advice promptly from the External Assurance Panel," says the minister in the letter.

'Critical reports'

The government says it cannot publish details of the new guidance as some of it relates to procedures for combatting fraud "which need to be kept confidential".

Ms Bowden writes that there been "several other instances of concerns about culture and inappropriate behaviour being raised in respect of prominent organisations in Wales", since the revelations at the WRU.

"The Welsh government will keep its procedures under review in the light of those instances and will make any further changes which we think appropriate," she added.

The minister does not name the organisations she is referring to, but there have been critical reports on the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Welsh language broadcaster S4C and Museum Wales in recent months.