3. 2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:32 pm on 5 July 2016.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 2:32, 5 July 2016

Thank you, Nick Ramsay. I’m sure the Gwent Music showcase was a tremendous display of talent and skill, but also of the professional expertise and commitment that went in from the music and education professions. And, of course, it would have been a partnership, I’m sure, with local government, as well as schools, and I know the Cabinet Secretary will be very interested to see the outcome of that in south-east Wales.

Of course, the other event that you mention is very important—the British Council event that you attended. We are working with the British Council, and also language institutes and universities across the world, to arrest and reverse the decline in the take-up of modern foreign languages. In fact, I recall an event in my own constituency, in Bryn Hafren school, which is taking the lead—in each consortium there is a lead school—when ‘Global Futures’ was published last year. That is a five-year plan to improve and promote modern foreign languages. So, I’m sure the Cabinet Secretary will want to update on how that is being delivered, but the British Council, and their language institute, is a key player in that ‘Global Futures’ development.