5. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's legislative programme? OAQ52473

I will be making my annual statement on the legislative programme before the summer recess.

We look forward to that. But the Minister with responsibility for the Welsh language has stated that she is going to push proposals for a Welsh language Bill forward as part of that programme. The main thrust of those proposals is to encourage a total change of direction in the Government’s language policy, diluting rights, scrapping the commissioner, and taking us back to the legal framework of the failed Welsh language Act of 1993. So, what evidence is there to support the Government's proposals? Will you delay before introducing a new Welsh language Bill in order to carry out a comprehensive review of the case for such a Bill? Isn’t it entirely clear now that we need to strengthen, rather than dilute, legislation in light of the most recent attack on the Welsh language from Trago Mills?

I share your unhappiness with what Trago Mills has said, of course—and I’m sure that that’s true of everybody else in this Chamber. The aim of the Bill is to strengthen the legal structure relating to the Welsh language, not to weaken it. With the system that we have at present, and especially with the legislation that we have at present, it’s not clear to me that the legislation is clear enough or strong enough in order to have a Welsh language Bill ultimately. It’s also important to consider what kind of legislative framework should exist, but also to consider how we can persuade more people to use the Welsh language. Although I wasn’t present, I understand that the Tafwyl festival attracted 40,000 people into Cardiff over the weekend. That, to me, is a good example of how you can persuade people to use the Welsh language and to have a good attitude towards the language. And it is important to consider how we can strengthen legislation and the law, but it’s also extremely important to consider how we can persuade people just to make sure that they can have fun through the medium of Welsh.

Andrew R.T. Davies.

Thank you, Presiding Officer. [Interruption.] It's always good to get a cheer. [Laughter.]

First Minister, could I thank you for the very kind comments—with your indulgence, Presiding Officer—you expressed last week, and also to Members across the Chamber who have been very kind over the last couple of days in the comments that they have made on my departure from office? But I certainly look forward to challenging the Government, and I have a different view sitting here now of the Labour backbenches; I can see the whole backbench now.

But I would like to ask you on the legislative programme. I visited a charity in Cardiff North recently, Tomorrow's Generation, and they specialise in providing support for children who suffer with dyslexia in mainstream education. They made the point that in many countries across Europe—Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland and in England—the legislative framework that gives rights to children who are diagnosed with dyslexia is far stronger. Could I encourage you to have a look at the legislative framework that is available here in Wales, compare it to other examples in Europe, and if there does need to be a tightening of that legislative framework, that those changes are made and the Government brings forward the proposals? I can see the Cabinet Secretary saying it is not; I'm just conveying the message that was put to me by the charity. If it is not, then great, but if the changes do need to be made then I'd hope the Government would consider them. 

First of all, the reception he had there from his own benches was substantial, and it shows they miss him already, I suspect, but secondly, he raises an important point. If he will allow me to look at this issue and write to him with a substantive answer, he can then convey that answer to those who've expressed their concerns.