Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 5. Questions to the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 2:34 pm on 1 July 2020.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Siân Gwenllian Siân Gwenllian Plaid Cymru 2:34, 1 July 2020

(Translated)

Well, I'm very pleased that you have acknowledged that there is a very real crisis in this particular sector and that the Welsh-medium sector is an integral part of this, and that you will strive to ensure that this sector is given support, be there funding from Westminster or not. I do think that we need to invest in this sector directly, and that the Welsh Government needs to do that if the Tories in Westminster don't see the sector as being important enough for them to support financially.

Public service broadcasting has also been very important during this lockdown period, hasn't it, with large numbers turning to S4C for Welsh-medium output, and it has a particular role in supporting and conveying Welsh language culture to children. A large percentage of children in Welsh-medium education come from homes where the Welsh language isn't spoken, and they are turning in their thousands to Cyw and Ysgol Cyw on S4C. Since lockdown, viewership of S4C's programming for children has increased by 182 per cent.

Now, there is room for further development, and particularly to develop the educational digital elements, and there is an opportunity to do that through strengthening the partnership between Hwb and S4C Clic. So, will you commit to progressing with this work as soon as possible—this partnership work between Hwb and S4C Clic?