There are positive stories coming from the banking sector. For example, the Welsh Language Commissioner has collaborated with Santander to launch new cash point machines that remember consumers' language preference, and also Welsh Government has business officials who assist businesses to use more Welsh. We've got a helpline that's being launched in the next few months to offer support to businesses and provide a free translation service, and that will make it easier for businesses to treat Welsh and English equally. Also, experimental work is being undertaken in technology to make it easier for organisations of all types to know whether their IT systems are capable of delivering quality Welsh and bilingual services. And I think Rhun ap Iorwerth's comments on this in terms of online banking are important and relevant. But, of course, you often need detailed technical guidance and you need specifications when designing computer systems, and embedded throughout this work is the equal treatment of the Welsh language, and acknowledging that so many people in communities throughout Wales want to undertake essential activities through the first language of choice and bilingually. 

Also, the existence of services and opportunities to use Welsh doesn't guarantee that people will take advantage of them. The evidence on Welsh speakers' use of bilingual services suggest that uptake of Welsh language services can be influenced by a range of factors, including accessibility, visibility of the service, speakers' perceptions, quality of provision, amongst others. So, our focus on bilingual provision includes providing those innovative services, such as shared banking hubs and our plans for a community bank, all of which provide opportunities for people to receive their banking services in Wales. But, we do have to say, from this debate today, brought by Jack Sargeant, I strongly urge banks of all types to be a welcoming and encouraging place to practise and grow confidence in the use of Welsh. 

So, I will turn briefly to this key point about our community bank and just give a bit of an update. I'd really like to thank Jack Sargeant for the role he's played in bringing forward Banc Cambria with his ambitions to locate community bank facilities within the constituency. And I will say, let's hope, if we meet again this time next year with a similar debate, you will get your bank for Christmas in Buckley. But, there are so many communities across Wales who are waiting for this community bank and who want to undertake those day-to-day functions through their first language of Welsh. This is going to be a really important aspect of the community bank. It will provide those opportunities to receive their banking services in Welsh. 

Critical in our aspirations to have a community bank in Wales is to have them based on mutual values, and it presents the opportunity to provide a fully bilingual service. I don't think this has come out enough in our discussions and questioning about the community bank. It can provide accessible face-to-face and digital services for customers through the medium of Welsh in a key sector of the economy, whilst at the same time offering employment in contributing to the 1 million by 2050 Welsh language strategy. 

So, there is a commercial proposition now for establishing this community bank. It's being developed by the Monmouthshire Building Society. They've undertaken detailed work over recent months—I met with them recently—informing their location strategy. A key element of their considerations has been the Welsh language, and the Welsh Government obviously recognises and is respectful of the fact that this is a commercial proposition being developed by MBS, with support from Cambria Cydfuddiannol Ltd. So, further details haven't yet been shared with the Welsh Government on the specifics of the plans, but we hope to have those in the near future. And, indeed, Vaughan Gething, the Minister for Economy, wrote recently to Monmouthshire Building Society, underlying the importance of Welsh language services to the Welsh Government's aspirations for a  community bank in Wales. So, we remain committed to the creation of the community bank in Wales, the emergence of a mutually-based and inclusive financial model that serves the people of Wales. 

And, just in terms of access to cash, I welcome the intervention by Link and Post Office to introduce shared banking hubs. And that's been identified as being necessary following the loss of high street banks across Wales, and raised so regularly in this Chamber. 

So, working with key partners across the banking sector, Wales is supporting a combination of innovation, diverse, inclusive initiatives that, together, will help increase access to a truly bilingual banking service for all the people of Wales. And it's about finding the best bilingual and tailored solution at the heart of this hugely important work.

And—