1. Will the Minister make a statement on promoting the Welsh language within South Wales West? OAQ53925

We are working with a wide range of local and national partners to promote the Welsh language across the South Wales West region in line with the vision set out in 'Cymraeg 2050'.

It’s a cause of disappointment in my region that Neath Port Talbot council hasn’t opened a single new Welsh-medium primary school in the county since local government reorganisation in 1996. Do you agree that the record of Neath Port Talbot council has been weak in this area, and what are you doing in partnership with the council to change the situation?

Thank you. Of course, we have a strategy in place—the Welsh in education strategic plans—and under that it’s a requirement for every local authority in Wales to ensure that they provide more opportunities for people to learn through the medium of Welsh. I am pleased to say that a new primary school will be opened in the Neath Port Talbot area and, of course, we’re very keen to see an increase. Of course, that will now be discussed when we see the new WESPs, and that strategy will be submitted within the next few days to look at what we intend to do in the long term.

Minister, two months ago I asked you about your 20 Welsh for Business officers and your helpline, and you said that you thought—quote—that you needed to do more marketing in this area, and I agree with you 100 per cent, particularly in my own region. Now, in the new financial year, how much new work are those officials carrying out, and how many new enquiries has the helpline had as a result of improved marketing?

One of the things that we will be doing during the next few weeks is to ensure that the Welsh Government’s department and the commissioner’s office are working together much better to ensure that people know where to go in terms of provision. We hope that that helpline—more people will be led towards it and we will see then a better use of that line in the future. But it’s just the beginning.  

I believe that the best way of encouraging children to learn Welsh is to start at an early age. Will the Minister outline the support that’s being provided to Ti a Fi and Mudiad Meithrin in Swansea?

Thank you, Mike, once again, for using the Welsh language in the Chamber. I think it is essential that we see that there is more provision in terms of getting people to start their education at a very young age, and that’s why we’ve provided £1 million to nursery schools throughout Wales. Of course, we are having discussions with local authorities, including Swansea—and with other areas— to develop 14 new cylch meithrin. It is a special situation in Swansea, because, traditionally, the council has been providing nursery education in the schools, but we do hope that the new childcare offer will allow us to see more of an increase in the fact that there’ll be more provision in terms of Ti a Fi. I think that is the route to ensure that people continue then to Welsh-medium education through those nursery schools.