1. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Education on the role of schools in achieving the target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050? OAQ53496

I have regular discussions with my colleague the Minister for Education to ensure that, as a Government, we're all working together to create an education system to increase the number of Welsh speakers that supports and encourages the use of Welsh within schools, in communities and also in workplaces.

Thank you. According to the Welsh Government, Welsh-medium immersion education is the principal method for ensuring that children can develop their Welsh language skills and for the creation of new Welsh speakers. Now, I agree with the importance placed on Welsh-medium education, however, we are seeing the number of Welsh-medium schools fall from 434 in 2013 to 389 in 2018. Moreover, despite the number of children being taught in Welsh having increased, many are now concerned that the impact of Welsh-medium schools closing has not been fully considered. Therefore, what assessment have you made of the impact of these continuing school closures and the impact on the use of the Welsh language—how this is impacting on the use of the Welsh language and how it will ultimately impact on the aim of achieving a million speakers by 2050?

Well, thank you, and thanks for your interest in this area. I think what we've got to do is to keep an eye on the big picture, which is how we increase the number of Welsh speakers in our schools. And what's important, therefore, is the number of pupils, rather than the number of schools. And that's why we're focusing very much on increasing the number of pupils who are having their education entirely through the medium of Welsh from 20 per cent to 40 per cent by 2050. And what we have is a very clear trajectory in terms of how we're going to make that happen. That's why we have allocated an extra £46 million in terms of capital funding to open new schools, to allow an extension of schools that already exist, because the demand is there. What we are doing is to create, for example, an extra 2,800 school places with that extra money that we've given. That's 41 extra projects. So, I think that the key thing, as far as I can see, is to keep our eye on not just meeting the demand, but what we're trying to do now is to get ahead of the demand. That's why we've created the Welsh education strategic plans so that we are asking councils to actually create the demand, rather than just meet the demand. And it's a very different philosophy and a different approach. And what's great is it's really transformed the way that local government in Wales is thinking in relation to the provision of Welsh-medium education. 

Minister, I recently met with the headteachers of the Welsh-medium schools from Bridgend county borough, who were concerned over the impact cuts were having on Welsh-medium education. Upon visiting Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd, I was shocked at the poor state of repair of the building and the school's resources. Minister, what assessment have you made of the impact local authority cuts are having on the ability to teach through the medium of Welsh and the effect that will have on the wider goal of creating a million Welsh speakers?

Thank you. I'm sure that the Member is aware that, actually, unlike in England, we have given a massive injection of money to really transform the provision of school estates in Wales. It's something that is absolutely the envy of the rest of the United Kingdom. So I don't think we've got anything to be ashamed of in this area. 

Now, of course, there are still some schools where we do need to ensure that we improve the facilities, and there is a programme of work that is being undertaken. There is an order of priorities, based on the conditions of the schools, largely. But, as I say, what we've done recently is to provide this additional funding specifically for Welsh language schools because there is increasing demand. So, I think we should be really proud of the fact that that capital expenditure that simply doesn't exist in England that is transforming not just our educational establishments but also is having an impact on the economy in the area because we've got local people building those schools, apprentices. So, there's a lot, I think, we should be proud of.