A PROMINENT author with links to Meirionnydd has helped save the Welsh Books Council’s budget.

The Welsh Books Council has welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement that it will not receive a cut in funding in the next financial year and is “thankful” for all the support shown over the last few weeks.

The body’s grant was due to slashed by 11 per cent for next financial year but the Welsh Government was forced to change their plans after an immense outpouring of opposition.

A number of English and Welsh language authors had expressed their concern at the proposed cuts and the Welsh Books Council has thanked the deputy minister, Ken Skates, for his willingness to consider the arguments and respond in a positive way.

One such author was Phillip Pullman who grew up in Harlech and went on to write the critically acclaimed His Dark Materials trilogy.

Speaking to the BBC last week, Mr Pullman said that the Welsh government has a responsibility towards culture and language.

“In a sense it’s little of my business. In another it’s very much my business,” the best selling writer said of the proposed cuts.

“My education in Wales gave me a lifelong love of the sound of the Welsh language and of the high regard that Welsh people have for poetry and music and culture in general.

“So it was a natural impulse to support Welsh writers, publishers, and others concerned with the production of books in Wales in their protest against the cuts being proposed in the Welsh Books Council’s budget.

“In a democratic age, if we want to allow imagination to flourish, subsidy has to come through a democratic route.”

Elwyn Jones, chief executive of the Books Council, was delighted with the government’s U-turn.

“Naturally, it has been a difficult time for the council and the publishing industry as we were concerned about the effects of the cuts on the range and quality of books from Wales,” he said.

“In the present economic climate we appreciate the confidence of the Welsh Government in our work and we will put all our efforts into supporting the industry and promoting books in both languages.

“We will also continue with our efforts to secure other funding sources to sustain and develop our work.”

Prof M Wynn Thomas, chairman of the council, added: “With the support of the Welsh Government the publishing industry has reached out to communities of readers across the whole social and geographical spectrum of Wales.

“It has been successful in encouraging the development of e-books as well as the printed book, in increasing interest in books from Wales, in fostering authors and in supporting a network of flourishing businesses, both publishers and booksellers.

“Books produced in Wales are also vital to the country’s libraries and education sector.”