It is right to say that COVID has changed society overnight, but it was only having an impact during the final fortnight of this reporting period, so COVID cannot excuse or hide the lack of progress that is so apparent in the Government's record. And one example that jumped out at me was the sweeping statement in the report that the head of the 2050 project had now been appointed and was in post, following delays as a result of COVID-19. But COVID wasn't to blame for that delay. The announcement of this single new post in the civil service was the major announcement made by the Minister in the Eisteddfod in Llanrwst in August 2019, which was to focus attention on the strategy. I saw that things were sluggish and I wrote to the Permanent Secretary in January 2020, asking for an update. It's very disappointing to see this lack of progress. It was characteristic, perhaps. Far too much time was lost with the appointment and therefore with the strategy itself.

Long-term strategies are important, but their implementation on an annual basis is even more important, and the main test of this, where you can identify lack of progress, is when Ministers are content just to make announcements rather than to identify real achievements. One of those was the launch of Helo Blod, a translation service for small businesses and the third sector—which sounds great, and is praiseworthy as far as it goes, but is entirely inadequate if we are serious about reaching a million Welsh speakers. Only major steps in the workplace, in law and in the education system will secure that aim. Education has a crucial role in creating that million Welsh speakers, but the report states that there are fewer Welsh-medium primary teachers in this period than there were even in 2015-16—fewer teachers. That is quite staggering. Eleven secondary Welsh medium teachers were trained—11—which is 367 teachers short of the target. The situation is critical, and in looking forward, COVID threatens what we already have. But what do we hear? Helo Blod, goodbye introduction of a standards program. Helo Blod, but goodbye to the Urdd. Helo Blod, but goodbye to viable Welsh speaking communities where second homes are entirely out of control. I'm sure you can hear the sarcasm and frustration in my voice, and I make no apology for that.

There is room to acknowledge a few glimmers of hope. Thank you to the Public Accounts Committee and the culture committee of the Senedd. The Permanent Secretary's feet were held to the fire, and there was a commitment and an action plan to make the Welsh language an administrative language within Welsh Government over a period of time. Judge Fraser's adjudication in the administrative court was made recently, which provides everyone with the right to continue in Welsh-medium education. Another glimmer of hope is the detailed work done by the Welsh Language Commissioner, which demonstrates where legislation on the curriculum provides us with a real opportunity to make progress on the linguistic continuum, if we bring a statutory code in order to move this situation onwards. And I do very much hope that the Minister will take that opportunity in responding to the debate, to give her support to the excellent work done by the commissioner in terms of the curriculum Bill. But what's important about these glimmers of hope that I've mentioned is it's not the Government that's been responsible for bringing them forward. These things have happened despite the Government, not because of the Government. We need to make progress.

'We need to look towards the future not the past' according to the Minister, and it will come as no surprise that I am more than happy to look to the future, a new future for the work of regenerating the Welsh language, and myself and Plaid Cymru have very clear ideas on the new direction, the new leadership and the new energy required for these efforts. A Plaid Cymru Government would promote the status of the Welsh language unit as a powerful cross-governmental directorate. We would introduce a Welsh langauge education Act to make it truly a language for all. We would save our national institutions that do so much for the language and provide a sustainable future for all of the communities of Wales. Thank you.