Written Statement: Welsh Government’s Response to the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities report

I have today published the Welsh Government’s response to the report of the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities, Empowering communities, strengthening the Welsh language.  

The Commission's report highlights the socio-economic and linguistic challenges facing our Welsh-speaking communities and has provided fifty seven recommendations aimed at addressing these challenges. The Commission considered key policy areas such as the economy, community development, housing, town and country planning, equality, diversity and inclusion, Welsh-medium education and community-based language planning.  

We recognise the importance of sustaining Welsh-speaking communities to maintain and support language acquisition and its use, but we also support the Commission’s statements that the “Welsh language is a national language that belongs to us all—whoever we are, wherever we live, or however much of the language we speak”. Our Welsh language strategy Cymraeg 2050: A million Welsh-speakers provides the basis to ensure the language thrives in all parts of Wales, whilst also acknowledging the important role of communities with higher densities of Welsh-speakers in achieving our aims. 

Our response addresses the recommendations that fall within the Welsh Government's remit, whilst also acknowledging the roles of local authorities, health boards, and other relevant organisations. Our aim is to continue to work collaboratively both within the Welsh Government as well as with key and relevant stakeholders to improve and develop policies that support the Welsh language to help sustain Welsh as a thriving community language. We will publish a separate response to the Commission’s standalone report on Town and Country Planning in due course. 

Finally, I wish to thank Dr. Simon Brooks, the Chair of the Commission, and its members for their expertise and dedication in preparing this valuable and comprehensive report. I also wish to thank all the individuals, groups and organisations that have provided evidence as well as taken part in workshops and discussions with the Commission on a wide range of issues. These activities have provided the Commission with the necessary evidence and understanding as it prepared its report.