Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:04 pm on 6 December 2022.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 2:04, 6 December 2022

Llywydd, I'm more of an optimist than the leader of Plaid Cymru, but I'm always more of an optimist about Wales than Plaid Cymru is on almost every point. [Interruption.] Yes, I know. They hate it when you point out to them that every time they get to their feet, it's always to give us the most pessimistic view possible of what Wales can achieve. Llywydd, I'm well enough aware of the difference between a number and a percentage, so I thank the Member for reminding me of that. Let me say this to him. He's offered one solution this afternoon. It's a solution that my party will not adopt; let me be as clear as I can with him about that. Compulsory education for everybody through the medium of Welsh is not the answer to the Welsh language in Wales. It will alienate people who are sympathetic to the Welsh language; it will set the language backwards not forwards. You are perfectly entitled to make that your policy, if you like, but I'm clear with you, as clear as I can: it will not be the policy of the Welsh Government.