7. Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Wales: A community of communities

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:21 pm on 28 February 2023.

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Photo of Mike Hedges Mike Hedges Labour 5:21, 28 February 2023

Can I just thank the Minister for her statement? Like the Minister, seeing communities come together at a time of need fills me with hope for the future. As we mark one year since the illegal invasion of Ukraine by the Russians, which caused displacement of many Ukrainian people who could no longer live in their country, I am also proud to see how communities across Wales have welcomed Ukrainian refugees into their homes and into their communities. It is important that Wales is a nation of sanctuary. Will the Minister join with me in congratulating Swansea on Swansea being a city of sanctuary and the support that's given to refugees in Swansea? I want to highlight just one example of kindness towards Ukrainian refugees in my own constituency, where the money collected in a local pub quiz at the Midland Hotel, Morriston was given to support Ukrainian children staying in a local hotel.

But, as we know, multilingualism is common in many countries, and also in communities across Wales, including in Swansea. I think the problem we've got is that we have the British view that there's only one language anybody needs to know, and that's English, and if they don't understand it first time, shout a bit louder. Does the Minister know the number of multilingual people we actually have in Wales?