11. Will the First Minister make a statement on the White Paper on the proposed Welsh language Bill? OAQ51300

The consultation on our White Paper that outlined our proposals for a Welsh language Bill ended on 31 October. We are currently analysing the responses and we will make a further statement in due course. 

First Minister, many organisations have been in touch with me in order to express concerns about your intention to abolish the role of the Welsh Language Commissioner and to weaken the fundamental rights of Welsh speakers. But, unfortunately, your Government has accused the language organisations of being too conservative. Groups such as the mentrau iaith and Mudiad Meithrin do a great deal to assist the language. Given the concerns expressed by many organisations and specialists in this area, is it now time for you to reconsider the decision to abolish the role of Welsh Language Commissioner?

We’ve naturally consulted on the Bill itself and we’re now going to analyse the responses that we’ve received. It’s vitally important that they are considered in detail. The aim of the Government is to improve the situation and reinforce and strengthen the rights available to speakers to ensure that we can attain the target of 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050. And so what we’re now doing is considering the views of organisations and other bodies to see whether we can understand their concerns.

Just on that point of consideration, I wonder if you can tell us whether, in examining the case for the new body to replace the language commissioner, the Government, as it says in the White Paper, needs to consider carefully how any staff might be affected and whether there will be transfers of staff. So, can you tell me whether officials have already scoped the likely cost of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981, observing changing pension and employment rights, and, specifically, the costs associated with managing individuals' data protection in line with the new regulation, and concluded that that kind of change is actually worth the money at all?

Well, first of all, can I give staff assurances that, of course, when there is change, we want to make sure that they have TUPE'd over, as the phrase has it, and that we are in a situation where people can get an understanding of their situation as soon as possible, and, of course, get comfort as soon as possible. Any regulatory assessment of the Bill will follow the normal process, and Members will have the opportunity to scrutinise that. 

Thank you, First Minister.