Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. It's a pleasure to lead this discussion this afternoon on the commissioner's annual report. I want to start, of course, by thanking Meri and her team for the very hard work that they’ve done over the past year in leading on this work. Very often, the Welsh Language Commissioner’s role is a thankless one, and I'm very eager that Members this afternoon have the opportunity to discussion the commissioner's work, but also to thank her for the way that she has fulfilled her duties.

But we’re very aware that, this time next year, we’ll have a new strategy for 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050, and that will call for an ambitious package of policies and legislation, and the commissioner, of course, will be an important part of whatever emerges over the coming months and years.

And I’m very eager that we do consider the commissioner’s report in a very wide-ranging way to look at how she has achieved her work. The commissioner is a very familiar figure for us here, who comes to committee meetings, who is part of discussions on the Welsh language, and she has also responded to complaints by the public to ensure that individuals can demand justice in their use of the Welsh language. All of this work across Wales is vital for all of us who use the Welsh language and speak it.

On top of that, the commissioner has published a five-year report, which, amongst other things, reports on the Census results from the point of view of the Welsh language, and we will be considering this report as we devise the new strategy. Of particular interest too is the ‘Time to set the standards’ report, which portrays people’s experiences in using the Welsh language with public institutions,. Very often the picture that we see is something that we all recognise from personal experience and the experience of our families, and I thank the Commissioner for the work that she has done in putting together an image of inconsistent provision across the public sector, which demonstrates why we need the standards.

In terms of standards, as we perhaps should have expected when a challenging new regime is established, we know that the feedback has hitherto been mixed. Despite this, in addition to the rights that these standards give us as users, matters such as policy development standards are starting to show their potential. The ethos of workforce planning for the future to ensure that we can meet the demand for the Welsh language and Welsh language services have started to take root.

I think we need further discussion with the commissioner about certain issues. For example, there are institutions that say that they need to understand the standards better, and that they need support in getting to grips with some requirements. These are early days, but it’s important that we see the process of creating standards and Welsh language services as something that we work together on.

We have introduced four sets of regulations to ensure that standards are applicable to different bodies. The Welsh Government, local authorities and national parks are already compliant with standards, and the commissioner has introduced compliance notices for over 50 other bodies. We’ve just finished consulting on draft regulations for the health sector. I will be considering the responses that we’ve seen before tabling regulations before the Assembly early next year. My intention is to present a written statement to Members over the coming weeks giving a timetable for the introduction of further regulations, and I very much hope that we can have agreement on how we move forward from where we are today.

Members will also be aware that, over the coming period, we will also be looking again at the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 in order improve the legislation that we have. It’s too soon at the moment to give details about what that will mean—whether we’re going to amend the current Measure or create a new language Bill. But one thing that is certain is that the challenge of creating 1 million Welsh speakers and 1 million users of the Welsh language does demand significant change, and that is true in all areas related to the Welsh language. Thoughtful planning is such an important part of the draft strategy, because, through planning, we will ensure that the foundations are laid. So, I want the strategy for the Welsh language to come first and, on the basis of that strategy we will discuss legislating and what kind of legislation we need in future.

At present, we are starting to conclude the process of consulting on the strategy that we launched in the Eisteddfod. I am very grateful to everyone who has been part of the discussion process and who has responded to the debate and the consultation. We have set an ambitious target because we want to change the way that we support and promote the Welsh language. I very much hope that every Member in all parts of the Chamber will share the vision that we have and will feel that they can all contribute to the vision in different ways. But, I very much hope that the strategy, when it is published in spring, will be one that does receive support in all parts of the Chamber.

Before I conclude my initial comments, Deputy Presiding Officer, I will turn to the amendments that have been tabled in the name of Rhun ap Iorwerth. I will say at the beginning that I and the Government intend to accept all of the amendments and, clearly, we’re very pleased to accept the first amendment with regard to the importance of workforce planning to provide Welsh-medium services. Planning and workforce planning particularly is a central part of the draft strategy and is a central part of the work that we’ve been leading on over the past few weeks and months. It’s true in the area of childcare, it’s true in terms of education, it’s true about bodies that provide services and it’s also true about businesses.

That’s why I’m also willing to accept the second amendment, which deals with working with the commissioner to introduce a Welsh language strategy for the workplace. It’s important to remember that several bodies funded by the Government are already operational in this area, including the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and the National Centre for Teaching Welsh, which has also noted in its strategic plan that it will be working in partnership with the commissioner to develop a strategy for the Welsh language in the workplace. But, this amendment also talks about promoting people’s rights to receive services through the medium of Welsh. This of course is already one of the commissioner’s functions, but I’m very happy to accept the amendment.

In turning to amendment 3, the Welsh Government’s official response to the Welsh language and local government taskforce’s report will be published over the next few weeks. I don’t want to predict what will be in that response that is published, but it is fair to say that the standards that are already placed on local authorities place a statutory duty on them to plan for the workforce in terms of the language and to provide appropriate training in that regard.

I have made it clear that I don’t want to make any specific commitments from a legislative point of view, because I want the final strategy to drive the work of developing that. But, I am willing to accept the amendment because it’s part of the wider package of things that we will need to consider to ensure that we can move on in a genuine manner in terms of the Welsh language and the workplace. I hope that the Members will accept that we are willing to accept that amendment but we’re doing that recognising that we will need to discuss how we move on in future.

Deputy Presiding Officer, I believe that the report is an important one and a valuable one. I do hope that Members will have comments to make on the report, but I also hope that Members will join me in thanking the commissioner and her team for their work over the past year.