8. Will the First Minister make a statement on the government’s plan to increase the number of Welsh speakers in Wales? OAQ(5)0046(FM)[W]

Ensuring that the Welsh language prospers in Wales remains a priority for the Welsh Government, and we will continue to deliver the priorities set out in the ‘Bwrw Mlaen’, with a focus on increasing people’s use of the language. We also want to improve planning and develop the infrastructure through technology and standards and increasing Welsh language education also.

Thank you. I’m very pleased to hear that, but your manifesto did set a target of a million speakers by 2050—I’m sure that you agree with that, and that is an excellent thing, and I congratulate you on setting such a target, which means that, 34 years hence, we will have doubled the number of Welsh speakers that we have at present, but how are you going to proceed to do that, what are the action points that you’ll be taking, and on what exactly will you be focusing, and what is the timetable for that action? Would you agree with me that it appears to the public that the political ambition does not exist, bearing in mind that you have now moved the Welsh language out of the Cabinet? There is a Minister with responsibility for the Welsh language; I don’t doubt his commitment and his passion for the Welsh language, but he’s not centrally part of the Cabinet by now, and so one can be rather sceptical about this ambition by now. Do you agree with me about that, and how are you going to progress matters? How can you convince me that the Welsh language is a priority for this Government?

The Welsh language is a priority for me as one who comes from an entirely Welsh-speaking family and one who has children attending a Welsh-medium school. Therefore, this is something that is prospering across Government, although there is a Minister that has individual responsibility for the language. There will be a full statement during Eisteddfod week on the details of how we are going to progress in this area. But, of course, we need to ensure that there is more Welsh-language education available. This is extremely important. In some parts of Wales, it is difficult to access Welsh-medium schools, particularly Welsh-medium comprehensives, which are occasionally a long way away from where people live. That needs to change in years to come, and that’s why there are plans in place by local authorities to ensure that change is secured—and also to ensure that the new national centre, which will assist Welsh for adults to prosper, does work effectively. But there will be a full statement during August.

Will the First Minister join me in giving good wishes to Tŷ’r Gwrhyd language centre in Pontardawe in my constituency, which has just been launched with significant from the Welsh Government? Does he agree that there is a fundamental role for language centres in developing the need in our communities for public and business services through the medium of Welsh?

I very warmly welcome the opening of that centre—we’ve invested in it. Of course, the Swansea valley is an area that has gone from being a majority Welsh-speaking area to an area where the Welsh language tends to be spoken at the top of the valley—that has happened in a period of 30 years, which is a substantial decline in that time. It’s very important that we ensure that the Welsh language is viable beyond Ystalyfera towards Ynysmeudwy and Pontardawe, and to Clydach and further afield, in order to ensure that the Welsh heritage of the area is revitalised.

First Minister, according to the language use survey 2013-15 that was commissioned by your last Government, it was demonstrated that only about 50 per cent of people in Pembrokeshire thought that businesses were supportive of the language. Given this figure, what does your Government intend to do to ensure that businesses are given greater support to promote the Welsh language?

A pilot project is taking place in the Teifi valley to ensure that businesses don’t feel that it’s too difficult to ensure that a Welsh-language service is provided, and also to demonstrate that this is something that would be commercially beneficial to them, so that they can provide services to those who wish to use the Welsh language, or those who feel that it is important that that services should be available. Therefore, we will consider the outcomes of that project to see how we can ensure that businesses do see the commercial benefits of using the Welsh language within their own businesses.

And finally, question 9—Hannah Blythyn.