, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Yes, I think we'd all support that, wouldn't we? I think, in my own local authority area as well, that sort of work is happening. And in the work that we do as a Government in the round-table on the economy and language, that is tied into the work that we're…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
I think, in our tourism offer as a country, we do celebrate our language as one of the gems of Welsh life, and I think that is a real asset for us, obviously. Within the context of this particular plan, you'll see that one of the ideas that we are consulting…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Sorry, could you just repeat the question? I didn't quite catch the—
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, I don't think there's a tension, actually, between being a welcoming, outward-looking country and wanting to ensure that we organise our economy and our society in a way that protects one of our key national assets, which is our language. I don't think…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
—is that the Welsh language is a community language, but it's also a national language. So, that's really important. I've been to a number of meetings in the linguistic community—not languages that are used less often or minority languages and so on—and one…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, I hope so, Chair, but I'm happy to set out what we mean by that. I think the first thing to say—
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, the first thing to say, Chair, in terms of the fact that we have commissioners and whether this is a function for them, well, that question arises, I think, because we've called it a commission. I think that the work that they do is entirely different…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Okay, that's one way of looking at it, but what I would say is that the demand, on the whole—. There was a problem in that the Government hadn't so far created that possibility of a response. And I know that some wished that we had moved more quickly, but I…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, it depends what you mean, in terms of what intervention you want to make. There are things that we could do on a national level. I would argue that we have to ensure—. There is a diversity, isn't there, across Wales in terms of the impact of second…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, if you are suggesting that the Welsh Government should be setting council tax, then I'm not sure—
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, I would say that you start from the other side. What we have here is a range of interventions that enable you to start on that local basis, and then look at the regional level and then the national element. So, at the heart of this idea is that we…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, Chair, I think it reflects a number of the well-being goals in the legislation, about cohesive communities, global responsibility, about vibrant Welsh language communities. So, in that sense, I think it's, in terms of its objectives, very consistent…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Because how are you going to explain to people—? For example, you could say the increase in the use of the language after an annual survey. You could use that, and that would be a valid way of measuring that. But what's challenging is linking one intervention…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, there are a number of ways that we can evaluate things; it's not just setting targets. So, at the moment, in another part of the portfolio, for example, we're re-evaluating the Welsh grants scheme, and we're looking at that with fresh eyes to see if…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, if you ask for a target regarding the impact of the cultural ambassadors, where we are today, when we're consulting, I would argue that it's too soon to look at that.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, that more of these things happen.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Ensuring that, when people move into an area, they are given an explanation of the wider context and also giving people economic opportunities to stay in their communities and also creating spaces where the Welsh language can prosper.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Yes, yes. If you look at the interventions, it shows a range of things that need doing, so there are challenges in terms of housing—we understand those; we have a plan there—but they don't give us the full picture in terms of what's important in our…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, there are around seven or eight interventions that are going to be—
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Yes, Chair, I think it is. If you look at the Brooks report, 'Datblygu polisïau newydd yng Nghymru' and also the Gwynedd report, you see very clearly in those the impact of large numbers of second homes in particular on our Welsh-speaking communities…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 9—Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Thank you, Chair. Just to say, if I may, from the outset, that succeeding in this area means that we have to collaborate in every part of Government, including in the areas that you've referred to in your question. So, it's a cross-cutting field and every…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: High Standards and Aspirations for All
The Member has made some very, very important points in her question there, and I'm glad to hear of the school of which she's a governor focusing so clearly on the importance of pupils being in school as the best environment in terms of their well-being, but…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: High Standards and Aspirations for All
I thank the Member for those questions. She's entirely right in saying that we need to continue to support schools through the period they're going through at the moment, which continues to be challenging, of course. She asked towards the end for confirmation…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: High Standards and Aspirations for All
I thank Laura Jones for the welcome she's given to the initiatives that have been announced in the statement today. In relation to the point that she opened on regarding community schools, she will know that there's a range of experiences in schools across…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: High Standards and Aspirations for All
We will work, Dirprwy Lywydd, with the Education Workforce Council and our initial teacher education institutions to ensure that the nature of educational disadvantage, its impact on educational achievement and how that can be overcome, is a prominent element…
