Congratulations from me too, new Cabinet Secretary. May I also thank you for your statement today and for the report? Of course, I haven’t had an opportunity to give it the attention it deserves. I would like to do that before too long. But it’s clear from some of what I’ve seen already that this work doesn’t duplicate work that’s already been done in this area. So, there is a chance now for us to move forward with these recommendations. That is something that we should celebrate, I think. As you said, it’s going to be quite challenging for some of us, but having looked at them in detail, we will have an opportunity to bring forward our own clear ideas and our stance as a party.

If I could just turn first of all to the standards, because Sian raised the issue of rights. I personally would like to see standards working here in Wales. It has been disappointing, I have to say, that there have been so many appeals submitted to the commissioner from some of our local authorities here in Wales. It’s disappointing, given the work that has taken place between the commissioner’s office, the Welsh Government and the councils themselves. As I said, I would like to see the standards working effectively, so I would like to see the number of appeals reduced and the risk of judicial review also. I don’t want to see that happening. So, do you think it would be possible, in response to this report, to say something about the test that you as a Government use in ensuring that the regulations introducing the standards make it clear why you as a Government have deemed them to be reasonable and proportionate, because that is the fundamental point of standards, just in order to avoid these appeals from coming through in the first place?

You mention in your statement the assistance available for those working in our public services, particularly our councils, and I agree with you on that point, but it is not just about resources, shall we say, because it’s important that everyone has these. If people want to use the Welsh language, they should have the opportunity to speak Welsh and learn Welsh within our councils. But I was thinking more of a culture shift, because, as you know, not every council in Wales has taken up this agenda, and it is still something of a battle for hearts and minds, shall we say, with some of our councils, and with some councillors particularly. I saw some words in the report on leadership by our senior officials, and there are questions here about what would be relevant or pertinent to them, but I would like to know more about the way in which we deal with the attitude towards the language of some of our elected members in some places and some of our officials, depending on where they work. This can be a difficult issue, even now, it’s sad to say.

May I conclude just by saying something about economic development? There isn’t much in the statement on that, but there is a great deal in the report and I haven’t had an opportunity to look at it in detail. Sian Gwenllian is entirely right in mentioning the value of learning Welsh—just seeing it as a benefit and an advantage in our daily lives and especially in the workplace. It’s no surprise really that I am interested in the Swansea bay city region. I have seen that there is reference in the report to some of the communities in the west of that development, but I would like to know what an economic language strategy would mean in those traditionally non-Welsh-speaking communities, because there are many within my region. If you look at Welsh-language skills as a tool against poverty, there is a question as to what an economic language plan will mean in communities such as those. Thank you.