I'm pleased to contribute to the debate on behalf of Plaid Cymru and also as a member of the Children, Young People, and Education Committee, and I'm pleased to note that Plaid Cymru and stakeholders are generally supportive of this Bill, although everyone involved in the scrutiny process had their areas that they wanted to amend. But I'd like to thank the Minister for the open way in which he has worked with and responded to feedback and recommendations.

I would like to focus, however, on certain areas where Plaid Cymru believes that further amendment is required. The first is the strategic duty to promote Welsh-medium provision. I was pleased to hear from the Minister this afternoon that he acknowledges that the committee's recommendation on that strategic duty to promote tertiary education through the medium of Welsh was convincing and that he wanted to respond to the concerns raised by stakeholders.

The duty was welcomed, of course, but there were valid concerns about the wording of the duty and the use of the term 'reasonable demand' in relation to Welsh-medium provision. Questions were raised by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and the late Welsh Language Commissioner, because the term is weak, dated and needs to be strengthened, and the concept of reasonable demand would lead to a lack of progress. Although the Minister has stated that he wants the commission to respond to reasonable demand, which goes beyond meeting that demand only, and he also mentioned that he wanted to push the level of the provision, I look forward to further discussions during Stage 2 on the detail of how this is reflected in practical terms in the Bill in order to ensure wording that is in keeping with the letter and spirit of the 'Cymraeg 2050' strategy.

One of the aspects of the Bill as it stands that perhaps has caused most concern for stakeholders relates to sixth forms. The commission will be able to give direction in certain circumstances that sixth forms in schools should be established or abolished. Now, many stakeholders were concerned that these responsibilities could lead to the removal of local accountability for this unique element of education provision, undermining the role of local authorities and their schools as providers of tertiary education.

The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and others stated that sixth forms in many areas are the only places in which post-16 learners can access full Welsh-medium provision. There were calls to ensure within the Bill that consideration of the impact on the language locally and on the delivery of the 'Cymraeg 2050' strategy should be taken into account by the Bill. I hear what's been said on reliance on current provision within and beyond the Bill in order to safeguard this central element of Welsh-medium education and the Welsh language strategy. However, when it comes to the issue of the Welsh language, you need the clearest defence, the most robust legislative framework, the most prominent precedent and an incontrovertible aim. And, in accepting the general principles today, there will be further opportunities during Stage 2 to give more detailed attention to the need for further amendments to the Bill in this regard, hopefully.

Moving on then to the relationship of the commission with the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, the coleg has noted the duties of the commission in relation to the Welsh language and has stated that most of those duties are within the remit of the coleg and that there is a need for greater clarity on those areas of joint responsibility, suggesting that it would be beneficial to have more direct participation by the coleg in planning processes and that funding responsibilities should be devolved to the coleg. I therefore welcome the fact that the Minister is to provide greater clarity in this regard, and I look forward to hearing the detail from him as to how this important relationship will be reflected more robustly in the Bill.