1. What assessment has the Minister made of the efforts of local authorities in south-west Wales to achieve the Welsh language standards? OAQ54697

I'm afraid that such an assessment is not a matter for me. The Welsh Language Commissioner is responsible for implementing the Welsh standards regime, including imposing standards on local authorities. He also monitors and enforces standards, and advises local authorities on compliance.

Translations units are key as local authorities are trying to achieve the Welsh language standards, but, unfortunately, there are problems facing the translation unit of Swansea council. There are concerns regarding the numbers of staff, lack of leadership and lack of investment, and uncertainty regarding the service. All of this is having a negative impact on the service and the staff. The unit assists the work of Swansea council and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, but it doesn't appear that either council is concerned about the situation of the current translators. Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru, the Welsh translation society, has offered help to the council in the current situation but, so far, there hasn't been a formal response to this proposal. The Welsh Language Commissioner is already aware of the situation, but will you as a Government look into this crisis situation in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot?

Thank you. I'm more than willing to have a conversation with the commissioner as regards this situation. One of the things we have to do in future is to look at how we can use software to do much of the work that is currently undertaken by translators. They are aware that we do need to make progress with this technology; they don't see it as any threat to them. But we must ensure that the support is in place so that these translators are aware of how to make use of technology, and I'm happy to discuss that situation with the commissioner.