, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: 'Cymraeg 2050': Annual Report 2022 to 2023
I'm grateful to you, Minister, for your statement this afternoon. Of course, part of the purpose of the target of 1 million Welsh speakers was to change pace within Government and to change pace of policy development within Government, and in reading the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Services: Evaluation of the Autism Code of Practice and Neurodivergence Update
I'm grateful to you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm grateful also to the Deputy Minister for a very full statement this afternoon, and I'm grateful also for the way in which she's set out this statement and explained how services are being delivered on a…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I'm grateful to you, Presiding Officer. We hear a great deal, First Minister, from the Conservatives that they don't like additional politicians. Well, we discovered yesterday that David Cameron, of course, is the hundred and seventeenth new member of the…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Conflict in Israel and Gaza
I'm grateful to you, Presiding Officer. Like others here, I've been a visitor to the middle east over a lifetime. I've visited and worked both in Israel, in occupied territories, in Jordan, in Lebanon, in Syria. I've sat in the coffee shops of Amman and…
, Plenary
Debate on the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee Report, 'Post-EU regional development funding'
And I hope that what we'll be able to do with an incoming Labour Government is to have a respectful relationship across these islands, delivering resources and funding to where they're needed, managed collectively for the greater good. Thank you.
, Plenary
Debate on the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee Report, 'Post-EU regional development funding'
I'd like to start by congratulating the committee on this report, but also by congratulating the Chair on his leadership of the committee. I think the Member for Preseli, whom I've known for many, many years, has always been a very impressive committee Chair…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Like Rhun ap Iorwerth, I'm a customer of HSBC, and I'm disappointed with the letter that we received this morning—as the commissioner was before the committee answering questions on all of this, as it happens. I think we need to respond in two ways. First, as…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
Yes, but how you operate is important too.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
—it's appropriate for the committee to understand what you've just told us.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
I don't have a problem with that. But I think—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
Yes, but I just want to finish my point. I do think, particularly in smaller nations, where we do tend to know each other better than perhaps over the border, that we need to think about the way that we operate. So, I think, as a committee, we should be…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
I want to see that there is distance in terms of that important tension between regulators and Government. I think that's something that's important to maintain. Now—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
But you also have to be accountable to us for the decisions you make. And I'm saying that I'm uncomfortable with that. I don't say that I oppose it, but I'm telling you that I feel uncomfortable with it and I want to consider that further. Because it is…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
I feel uncomfortable with that, to be honest with you, commissioner. I see what you are saying, but the purpose of your office isn't just to save money—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
I agree with you and I should say that I have interests there. But perhaps, Chair, this is something that we can return to in another session.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
And what are the results of those discussions?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
And do you discuss the actions that need to be taken with others? I take it that you're talking about the Welsh Government.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
Ocê.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
Yes. You've just said that there are more young people who speak Welsh than are in Welsh-medium schools, and so you asked the question, 'What are we doing about those young people?' I just wanted you to answer that question also.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
So, what are you doing? What are you doing about that cohort of young people?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
I agree with that, as it happens. But how, then, does the analysis that you've given us influence and shape your work, because these are facts and information that you didn't have when you appeared before the committee last year?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
Okay. Fair enough. And in describing the census results as complex results, that's a very interesting word for my part because it doesn't—. I'm not really sure what you mean.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
But not just in terms of the use of services.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
I was starting from your point of view, of course. When you appeared before us last year, you said that you wanted to prioritise promotion of the Welsh language, and I think—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Language Commissioner - Autumn 2023
But you have said that this is your priority.
