In terms of the Welsh language, the committee noted that overall funding for the Welsh language within the education MEG has remained flat, with £38.3 million allocated within the draft budget. The committee understands the current constraints on funding, however, we are concerned that a cash-flat budget will not allow sufficient progress toward the Welsh Government’s target of 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050. Specifically, we are concerned that the Welsh Government’s targets for increasing Welsh-medium early years education provision may not be sufficiently ambitious to help achieve the overall target by 2050.

In terms of funding for the Welsh Language Commissioner, the way that the budget allocation for the Welsh Language Commissioner is presented is unsatisfactory, in our view. It wasn't clear whether additional funding had been allocated to cover the handover to the new commissioner being appointed. Similarly, the committee would like firmer undertakings that any costs arising from tribunal activities that the commissioner cannot meet from reserves will be underwritten by the Welsh Government. The process by which budget proposals were agreed with the commissioner was also far from clear, and we have asked for details of the communications between the Minister, officials and the commissioner. In particular, the committee would like to understand the timing and nature of the commissioner’s revisions to her budget.

The committee was also concerned that the proposed new Welsh language Bill may be paralysing aspects of the Welsh language standards arrangements. For this reason, we would like a much firmer commitment from the Welsh Government as to when a Welsh language Bill will be introduced, so that commercial organisations, such as public utilities, do not use the lack of Welsh language standards as an excuse to diminish or stall their Welsh language provision.

Llywydd, we have gone relatively swiftly through all of the scrutiny work that we've undertaken. There are many other things that have caught the committee's eye, but I think it was important for us to present what the committee had done to the Senedd. Even though perhaps not everybody sees the value of the arts and culture with regard to the budget, it is extremely important that that is prioritised to ensure that those things that are inextricably linked to our nation are there and continue to the future, and are supported by the Welsh Government.