8. 7. Debate: The White Paper on Proposals for a Welsh Language Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 7:02 pm on 3 October 2017.

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Photo of Alun Davies Alun Davies Labour 7:02, 3 October 2017

(Translated)

I am listening. I am listening. I was in Llandudno discussing these issues yesterday. I was in Swansea a fortnight ago listening to people. I will continue to travel around Wales listening to people and discussing these issues with people. What I’m telling you now, quite clearly, Adam, is that people don’t particularly agree with what you’ve said this afternoon. The people I’ve spoken to across this nation don’t agree with what you and Sian have said this afternoon, and you have to consider that and think about it. We must, as the Parliament of Wales, reflect our collective vision for the future of the Welsh language. I am quite convinced in my own mind that we need to strengthen the rights we have as Welsh speakers to use the Welsh language wherever we are and to ensure that we can access Welsh services. This is something that we must do.

We must also do that within a democratic system. What I hear on occasion is that people don’t trust our democracy. People aren’t content to trust the democracy that we have. Now, I do think that we need a regulator that is wholly independent of Government, and that’s why I’m considering the ombudsman option, which is entirely independent of Government, and also the establishment of a commission with powers, with a budget and with the necessary powers to ensure that the Government is accountable for its actions. I also want to collaborate better in terms of how we enforce standards on various bodies. What I see is regulation as a positive means of ensuring that, where there have been failures, people have their rights implemented, but also that we regulate by collaborating with people, by collaborating with the large companies, and even with the banks, in order to ensure that we have a language policy that reflects our vision.

And what I want to say in concluding this debate is that there is a debate to be had, and I will bring the conclusions of this debate back to the Assembly during the next year, and we will then move towards legislating. But we will legislate to ensure a legislative framework that will reflect our ability to achieve our vision, and a vision that I think each and every one of us shares. We are not going to spend time discussing different structures. We are going to discuss the future of the Welsh language, and we are going to ensure a vision that will be shared in all parts of this country, from Holyhead to Monmouth—[Interruption.]