6. Debate on the Culture, Welsh language and Communications Committee’s Report on the impact of the pandemic on the Welsh language

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:37 pm on 16 December 2020.

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Photo of Helen Mary Jones Helen Mary Jones Plaid Cymru 5:37, 16 December 2020

Thank you very much, and can I thank everybody who has contributed to the debate? I must begin by thanking you all for your kind words about my chairing of the committee. I have to say that I've been so very well supported by Members and by staff that I don't think I can take particular individual credit for the work that we've done, but I am proud of what we've achieved through this difficult time.

I think we've heard, clearly, that Cymraeg 2050—we have to make sure that the actions supporting it are really re-evaluated in the light of what's happened, and I was pleased to hear from the Minister today. I know she's not responding formally—and we didn't expect that, of course—but we really will need to revise those actions to make sure that we take into account both the damage that's been done but also the positive lessons, as the Minister said, that could be learned.

With regard to digital presence, I thought what David Melding said about the online activity being a good second best, but a second best—it is true, as the Minister has said as well, that we mustn't lose the good things we've learned about digital engagement, but it is not a substitute. I did think, though, that David Melding's points about the equality impacts that people who couldn't physically get to an Eisteddfod—we all know how difficult it can be to walk around some Eisteddfods if you're fit and well, despite the best efforts to make them accessible, sometimes. And I think, again, that's something we won't want to lose. And his point about 'not hinterland'. These communities are not a hinterland of somewhere else, they are communities—. Natural Welsh-speaking communities, particularly in rural areas, they are their own communities, they are not a hinterland of bigger towns. And I'd echo David's thanks to all our institutions, and we're very grateful to them for all they've done at this very difficult time.

Siân Gwenllian is right, of course, to say that the impact of COVID in this field, as in so many others, has highlighted and exacerbated existing weaknesses and problems, and I really hope that the Minister will address those underlying weaknesses and problems as we move forward. That need for clarity that Siân highlighted, of working across Government to make sure that everybody's heading in the right direction—we very much hope, when we get the Minister's formal response, that that clarity will be there about who's leading and about who is responsible. The budgets must be restored. They weren't, as Siân said, very much in the first place. We would argue, of course, that there's more needed, but at least, as a bottom line, they must be restored.

I clearly didn't expect, as I've said, the Minister's full response today. She was right to highlight that we have positive things to learn, but I know she knows that we can't ignore the risks and the risks that have been exacerbated. The results of the survey she highlights reinforce our concerns, and I'm glad to hear her commitment today to act at speed to move this agenda on. We cannot wait. The workforce will be going elsewhere. We cannot wait.

Thanks, again, Llywydd, to everybody who's supported my work as committee Chair, to all the witnesses, to fellow Members and to staff. And I do look forward to carrying on with this work in a somewhat different role in the new year. Diolch yn fawr iawn.