THE SHADOW Welsh Culture Minister fears that a planned Welsh language newspaper has not got enough funding to become reality.

Paul Davies, who is also Assembly Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire, says that media professionals have expressed concerns that the planned £200,000 funding is simply not enough.

"I am certain that establishing a daily Welsh-language newspaper would be a huge boost for the Welsh language and to our cultural life," he told the Senedd.

"Many have argued that £200,000 is not enough to establish such a project. It is clear that we must invest and develop the field carefully or we are in danger of putting everything that currently exists at risk. That would be disastrous for the Welsh language.

"It will be crucial that any developments will lead to an increase in the number of people who read Welsh, particularly among young people."

He was told that the grants, which will be issued through the Welsh Books Council, should be announced and invested by the Autumn.