About Us

Aberystwyth Railway Station. Undated. (Image: CD2005_635_030 / NPRN: 34676) Libanus Baptist Chapel, Waun-glyn-da, Llansadwrn. 2004. (Image: DI2006_0792 / NPRN: 6580) St Llawddog's Church,Cenarth. Detail of font. 2005. (Image: DI2006_0222 / NPRN: 309895)

On 3 May 2012, the Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage in the Welsh Government, Huw Lewis AM, issued a Written Statement to Assembly Members announcing ‘a working group to create a process whereby the core functions of the Royal Commission could be merged with other organisations, including Cadw’.

On 17 January 2013 the Minister directed that a business case be carried out for merger of the Royal Commission’s services with those of Cadw, inside the Welsh Government, with a comparator of the renewal of the Commission as a registered charity.

Commissioners fully support the Minister in airing options with a view to ensuring the future resilience of historic environment bodies under declining government funding. They are proud of the Royal Commission's contribution to Welsh life over the past 105 years and hope that a robust and transparent examination will identify the best model for its services in future. Their own views on merger possibilities were set out prior to the Minister’s first announcement in their Operating Models Analysis.

Service-users, Friends, staff, outside bodies and individuals have expressed serious concerns for the future of the Commission’s services. The Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee of the National Assembly for Wales is currently continuing its inquiry into historic environment policy, including the merger proposal.

Eurwyn Wiliam, Chairman

Documents