MS, Cabinet Secretary for
Finance and Welsh Language: I have today published the Welsh
Government's response to
the report of the Commission for Welsh-speaking
Communities, Empowering
communities, strengthening the Welsh
language.
The Commission's report highlights the socio-economic and
linguistic challenges facing our Welsh-speaking communities and
has provided fifty seven recommendations aimed at addressing
these challenges. The Commission considered key policy areas such
as the economy, community development, housing, town and country
planning, equality, diversity and inclusion, Welsh-medium
education and community-based language planning.
We recognise the importance of sustaining Welsh-speaking
communities to maintain and support language acquisition and its
use, but we also support the Commission's statements that the
“Welsh language is a national language that belongs to us
all—whoever we are, wherever we live, or however much of the
language we speak”. Our Welsh language
strategy Cymraeg 2050: A
million Welsh-speakers provides the basis to ensure the
language thrives in all parts of Wales, whilst also acknowledging
the important role of communities with higher densities of
Welsh-speakers in achieving our aims.
Our response addresses the recommendations that fall within the
Welsh Government's remit, whilst also acknowledging the roles of
local authorities, health boards, and other relevant
organisations. Our aim is to continue to work collaboratively
both within the Welsh Government as well as with key and relevant
stakeholders to improve and develop policies that support the
Welsh language to help sustain Welsh as a thriving community
language. We will publish a separate response to the
Commission's standalone
report on Town and Country Planning in due
course.
Finally, I wish to thank Dr. Simon Brooks, the Chair of the
Commission, and its members for their expertise and dedication in
preparing this valuable and comprehensive report. I also wish to
thank all the individuals, groups and organisations that have
provided evidence as well as taken part in workshops and
discussions with the Commission on a wide range of issues. These
activities have provided the Commission with the necessary
evidence and understanding as it prepared its report.
