Whilst wishing the Prime Minister a good new year, Cymdeithas yr Iaith has called on the Government to do much more to reach the target of one million speakers by 2050.

Members of Cymdeithas left a New Year's card at Eluned Morgan's office in Haverfordwest today (03/01/2025). The card draws attention to the fact that there are only 25 years left to reach one million speakers and that urgent action is needed in order to reach that goal.

Josef Gnagbo, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith said:
"The Government is not taking its own target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050 seriously. The results of the 2021 Census and the Government's response to them show that. The Government set this target in 2016 but during all that time we have not seen the action needed to reach it. The number and percentage of Welsh speakers fell across Wales, especially in its traditional strongholds.
"As things stand, big opportunities are being missed - the Welsh Language and Education Bill is being presented to the Senedd later this month, but it will not ensure that everyone receives Welsh education. Since committing early in 2024 to create a broadcasting body to pave the way for the devolution of powers over broadcasting nothing has happened. The white paper on housing published in November did not give people any rights to a home; and a response to the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities' report, published in August, is not expected until the spring."

Cymdeithas yr Iaith is calling on the Government to act at once, starting with the following priorities:

• Significantly strengthen the Welsh Language and Education Bill in order to give Welsh education to everyone
• Establish a Broadcasting and Communications Body as a matter of urgency, in order to pave the way for the devolution of broadcasting, as has been promised
• Prepare to introduce a Property Act to enable people to have a home in their communities
• Implement the recommendations of the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities and create a Strategy for Rural Areas in order to protect and restore Welsh communities
• Extending clear rights through legislation for people to be able to use the Welsh language in all parts of their lives. In particular, by extending the obligation to provide Welsh language services to the private sector
• Extend the provision of health and care in Welsh by ensuring the effective implementation of legislation including the More Than Words Strategy
• Developing the use of the Welsh language in technology
• Ensuring that the Welsh language is mainstreamed as a working language in the civil service and in other workforces.

Joseph Gnagbo added:
"Although time is short, it is not too late. If the Government is serious about the Welsh language it must act proactively across a number of areas and make the language a priority. Cymdeithas yr Iaith's campaigning will hold this Government to account and we are calling on all our supporters to join in the work at the beginning of 2025."