Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I'm afraid that such an assessment is not a matter for me. The Welsh Language Commissioner is responsible for implementing the Welsh standards regime, including imposing standards on local authorities. He also monitors and enforces standards, and advises local authorities on compliance.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: It's important to note that it was a consultation on the draft document and that the Minister for Housing and Local Government will consider all the responses. I will be meeting with the Minister shortly to further discuss considerations relating to the Welsh language within the framework.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Yes.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I don't like this language of threats and that this is going to be entirely negative. I do think that we have to ensure that we work in a positive manner in relation to the Welsh language. That's why we have recently been ensuring that we are doing more to have a full understanding of the link between the Welsh language and the economy. We've been doing far more work in that area recently,...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Briefly, thank you very much to Suzy and to Siân for their contributions to this debate. I do think it’s important that we recognise that a change in the complaints investigation process is something that is independent of Government; the commissioner decides. The commissioner decides on that regime. But I think that we would all welcome the fact that the system is now working more swiftly...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much. The annual report in front of us this afternoon reports on the last year of Meri Hughes's seven-year term as the Welsh Language Commissioner. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Meri for all of her work over her period as Welsh Language Commissioner. She, of course, was the first commissioner, and she has set firm foundations in place. We are indebted to Meri for...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I find it really strange that somebody who's proposed Brexit, who's encouraged Brexit, now wants us to go and tell the European Union what to do. I find it very odd. That is a strange way to approach politics, and, if you think we didn't have much influence before, I can suggest to you that we'll have very, very little, if the current Prime Minister succeeds in his plans to take us out on 31...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much. There's a long and close history between Wales and Catalonia and we're very eager for this situation to continue. We share a number of political priorities, through our networks that we share with Catalonia. When I was preparing the Standing Orders for this new Parliament, many years ago, one of the things that I did as a member of the National Assembly advisory group was...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Well, I've noted the passion with which the Member's expressed his concern for the people of Catalonia. But I think it is worth emphasising that politicians in a democracy have a particular responsibility to work within the law, and the courts have a responsibility to enforce that law. But as the First Minister emphasised yesterday, there should be no place in a democracy for the sort of law...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: The lead for all matters relating to foreign affairs sits with the UK Government. But I have already written to the Foreign Secretary, to ask what representations the UK Government has made to the Spanish Government about the prison sentences handed down to Catalan politicians.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I think that's absolutely right. I think that the whole agenda here is changing. I think there's recognition that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office leads in this area, but you will have heard the First Minister talk yesterday about the new constitutional settlement that we're looking for in relation to the United Kingdom, and it's clear that we will need more of a say and more of an input...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you. There has been consultation with the honorary counsels, including the people representing Poland, so they've all received a copy of the strategy. We've also sent it to embassies throughout the United Kingdom, but I think the key thing for us to underline—and what is underlined very clearly in the strategy—is we want to celebrate those diaspora communities from abroad who have...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you. Just to make it clear, I have written to Dominic Raab already to set out that, actually, we have concerns relating to the concerns that have been expressed by some of the Kurdish community in Wales about the situation that's ongoing in those areas. Whilst we acknowledge that the UK leads on foreign affairs, we are undertaking a review of our entire export strategy at the moment...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: The draft international strategy is currently out for public consultation. I'd encourage everyone with an interest to respond and would be more than happy to receive feedback from all communities represented in Wales. All responses will be considered and evaluated as a part of that consultation process.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much. The council in Blaenau Gwent had been very clear that they wanted to see an expansion—they’d signed an agreement to say that they wanted to see an expansion in Welsh-medium provision. The Welsh Government has provided 100 per cent of the capital funding to open a new school, but it looks likely that they are trying to pull back from that situation. I’m aware that...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much. I think it’s clear that we have been able to provide that additional capital funding; £2.5 million has gone in to increase the capacity in Ysgol Gymraeg y Ffin in Caldicot. What’s clear, in terms of revenue, is that if these children don’t receive their education through the medium of English, then the money will be spent on Welsh-medium edcuation. So, in terms of...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I hope, with a wide range of partners, to promote the Welsh language in Monmouthshire. The Welsh Government has provided additional investment of £2.5 million through the Welsh-medium education and childcare capital programmes to expand provision in the local authority.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much. I do think that the opportunities to use the Welsh language in the workforce are increasing. You will be aware that the National Centre for Learning Welsh provides special courses for people who want to speak Welsh in the workplace. Therefore, ensuring that more people can learn is a great help, I think. But also, the work of the commissioner is to ensure that the...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Well done, John, and thank you very much for that. I think you’re an example of how the Welsh language captures the imagination of people in areas such as Newport, and you are an example to other people in the area. So, thank you very much for the effort of learning Welsh. If more people did the same, we would reach the target of 1 million quite easily. What's interesting is that aim of...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much, John. I'm pleased the south-east has benefited from capital funding to expand Welsh-medium education and childcare provision that are provided in the area. This, of course, will nurture new Welsh speakers. And also, through the Urdd apprenticeship schemes, 35 young people are working in the Valleys taskforce areas to support Welsh language opportunities for children and...
