7. Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Census 2021 — Welsh Language Results

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:07 pm on 24 January 2023.

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Photo of Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles Labour 6:07, 24 January 2023

(Translated)

Thank you very much for that. In terms of lifelong learning, that's truly very important, and what we want to do is to understand how all of the ways of learning Welsh do sit on the continuum—that is, GCSE and A-level qualifications, but also adult education. We need to reflect that pathway, and that's an important way of encouraging people to continue with their learning or to start afresh, if they haven't had an opportunity in school. So, that work is very important.

I think the Member makes a very important point on those social spaces where the Welsh language can be used, and I do think that Soar chapel is a good metaphor for this. The chapels, generally speaking, aren't driving the social use of the Welsh language in our communities, for reasons that we'll all understand. But the challenge for us is to identify the spaces that do that. If you look at Cardiff, for example, you have places such as Chapter, where people can come and be with others, but that doesn't exist in every community. So, where are the opportunities there? So, that's part of the aspiration too, and I agree entirely with the optimistic vision set out by the Member in her question.