3. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to support the Welsh language in rural schools and communities? OQ58914

I thank the Member for the question. Last August, I launched a commission to safeguard the future of Welsh-speaking communities. I also approved all 22 local authority WESPs, which set out how local authorities intend to improve education through the medium of Welsh over the next 10 years.

Thank you very much, Minister. I want to focus, if it's okay, on the WESPs—you've talked about the WESPs in a previous question—and particularly the part of the WESPs that mention secondary schools and how primary schools in rural areas can ensure that the secondary schools have an adequate number of pupils entering them. There is a balance to be struck here, as I'm sure you can see. In Powys, the decision has been made to close Llanfihangel Rhydithon school, an English primary school that wishes to become a Welsh-medium school. How can the WESP for secondary schools ensure that primary schools survive in rural places? Thank you very much.

I thank the Member for that question. In terms of the closure of the specific school that the Member mentions, that decision was taken earlier last year. The decision has been delayde in terms of it taking effect this year, in order to consider whether it's possible to put an alternative proposal in place in order to establish a Welsh-medium school in the area. That review, as I understand it, has taken place and, at its most recent meeting, the council has decided to proceed with its original decision. I as Minister don't have any further opportunity to be part of that process. I received no complaints from the public within the window available to me as a Minister to get involved in that decision, therefore that is no longer an option.

As the Member says, it is important, when looking at the provision of primary and secondary schools, that councils do tackle the issue of geographical distribution of provision. That's a very important element. We've already mentioned in the Chamber that it's not just numbers that matter, but the distribution and location of provision are a fundamental part of ensuring the prosperity of the language. I have met with the council in Powys to discuss their own WESPs, and they've already talked about plans to look again at some of the things they had to say about secondary provision. So, Welsh Government officials are discussing that with them at the moment. 

Diolch, Gweinidog. Minister, you said this morning in the education committee that there is money available in the Welsh Government budget to establish new Welsh-medium education. That's really welcome. A political choice was taken in Powys County Council by the Liberal Democrat administration not to establish a Welsh-medium primary provision in Dolau. Minister, narrow-minded decisions like this, based on the lack of Welsh speakers in an area, are the reason why the language in Radnorshire is not being developed further. So, Minister, what I'd like to hear from you is, what can you do as the Minister for Welsh language to ensure that councils like Powys develop the language in Radnorshire and they don't make narrow-minded decisions, and actually look to the future of developing the language in rural places like Radnorshire?

I've been clear with every council—I'm not going to single out any one particular council—I've been clear with every council that I expect the ambitions that they have outlined in their Welsh in education strategic plans to be fulfilled, and that is obviously also the intention of the councils themselves. I have also said that we will have regard to the extent to which the WESP obligations are being fulfilled when looking at the broader requests for funding across the education estate. So, I will expect to see that progress is happening in a comparable way with the WESP, as with all other education plans, when making those funding decisions. But the point I made in committee this morning was: the Government provides funding, and indeed significant funding, to enable authorities to deliver their WESPs, and we are happy to do that. We will continue to do that, and we look forward to seeing authorities comply with the ambitious plans they've all set out.