Written question WQ94563

Llywydd on behalf of the Senedd Commission:

The Senedd Library provides access to a wide range of Welsh regional and UK national newspapers. Print copies of newspapers are available in the Library and Members’ tea rooms. This includes a number of Welsh regional newspapers which are only available in print format.

In 2023-24 the Senedd Library purchased a range of print newspapers covering regions of Wales. There are numerous different subscriptions, covering different time periods. There are also different delivery costs for papers and some newspapers are stopped in recess. The costs have been calculated by dividing invoices which span multiple financial years. The table below, therefore, shows the estimated weekly print newspaper subscription costs by the geographic area where these newspapers are based.

Geographic area

Estimated weekly cost 2023-24

North Wales region

£35.66

Mid and West region

£21.73

South Wales East region

£19.83

South Wales West region

£13.09

South Wales Central region

£35.24

Wales

£26.55

Outside of Wales

£141.58

To the extent that a Member considers that these subscriptions or collections are not sufficient to support them with their duties as a Member of the Senedd, a Member could claim reimbursement of the reasonable costs. These costs would be met from the Member's Office and Constituent Liaison Fund set by the Independent Remuneration Board of the Senedd. Similarly a Leader of a Group in the Senedd could claim on the same basis from the Support for Political Parties’ Allowance where satisfied that this was needed to assist the Group in undertaking their work in the Senedd.