Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:20 pm on 17 May 2022.
Diolch yn fawr, Heledd. Those are very important questions, which are being worked on at the moment, about access to language support. I've given some detail already in terms of ESOL, trying to ensure that this is an FE, HE, cross-Wales response. But just for example in terms of the welcome centres, there's been also contact with ColegauCymru as well as local authorities to look at provision. In terms of reach-out for language pathways to support refugees to integrate, this does include access to Welsh, and for the children as well. I think the other thing that is happening that is really good is that there are refugees arriving with very good language skills who are already—and I think we've heard this from colleagues—actually getting jobs in helping in terms of being able to interpret and start working in terms of teaching support.
I think the point for us has got to be flexibility—we want to have as much flexibility once people arrive here—and discretion. That may be the case in terms of qualifications, access. That's our message to local authorities—that they need to be as open and use their discretion as much as possible. And this of course applies to all of the other issues in terms of biometrics et cetera. If I see that there are barriers emerging, I will raise this with the Minister for Refugees. This is not acceptable. Yes, we know where we are with the visas, but we should have no other barriers. People can't access references and all these issues. They've got to be able to get through straight away to access their needs without necessarily—. I mean, they've fled conflict and war, and that's the situation. I can give you my assurance that if there are barriers, I will be raising them, but if the barriers are here, we should be overcoming them.