As we bring a 36-hour vigil to a close Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg have responded to the First Minister’s statement about the Government’s Welsh language policy today (Tuesday, June 17).
Robin Farrar, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, said:
"There was no real substance in Carwyn Jones’ statement today. The Government has been promising an announcement for weeks and it’s been a year and a half since the Census results. All we have here is a draft of a policy - when will we see them act?
Commenting on the document itself he added:
"The report says that the Welsh language will be core to the definition of sustainability in the Future Generations Bill - this is encouraging but there is no move to make the language a material consideration within the planning system. There is further delay and a lack of ambition in terms of education , we are calling for Welsh education for all - there is no clear aim, and no reference to the foundation phase. And although the figure of a £1.2 million investment in the Welsh language, there is only a £400,000 increase - the rest is money being shifted around, and not extra money.
"It is clear that the Government understands what areas need to be addressed but there are no significant steps, or bold and innovative plans still, and there's no detail. We will consider Carwyn Jones’ statement, and its flaws, in a conference on the 4th July here in Cardiff Bay. It will be a conference of action, open to the public.”
We will hold a conference on Friday 4th July in Cardiff Bay to assess Carwyn Jones’s statement. Among the groups taking part in the event will be Friends of the Earth and teachers’ union UCAC.