Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
On 9 July the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee published its report following its inquiry into ‘Supporting and Promoting the Welsh Language’. I have today written to the Committee to provide my response to its 14 recommendations. I would like to thank all who provided evidence to the Committee, and to Committee Members for their careful consideration of the evidence.


We have a bold and exciting programme for our country to ensure that by 2050 we reach 1 million Welsh speakers. As a government we are committed to this and I am delighted that there has been so much support from across the board for this exciting ambition.


In the White Paper we published in 2017 we argued that the emphasis within Welsh language policy had moved too far in the direction of regulation at the cost of other policy levers. As I did not believe there was sufficient support to change structures to fulfil this policy aim the decision was made in February not to proceed with the Bill. However, I stand by the analysis that there needs to be a rebalance between regulation to provide rights to Welsh speakers and other interventions aimed at: 


* increasing the number of Welsh speakers to one million by 2050
* doubling the daily use of the Welsh language, and
* maintaining Welsh\-speaking communities.


I therefore welcome the Committee’s recommendations. Since the decision not to proceed with the Bill I have been drawing up plans to implement much of what the Committee is calling for. I outline those plans below.


### **Standards**


I am pleased to confirm that the Welsh Government has announced that new Welsh language standards regulations for two new sectors \- water companies and healthcare regulators are being developed. Those regulations will be developed in a manner which is consistent with the Committee’s recommendation with regard to adapting standards, by streamlining or combining multiple standards that have the same aim or outcome.


We are committed to deliver rights in relation to Welsh language services and I will make a further statement in the autumn regarding the rolling programme of standards. 


### **The Welsh Government’s relationship with the Welsh Language Commissioner**


When I announced the decision not to proceed with the Welsh Language Bill, I was clear that I expected the Welsh Language Commissioner to make some changes to the manner in which it undertakes its functions. To be clear, I continue to emphasise that the Commissioner’s independence in relation to monitoring and enforcing standards, and in conducting investigations into allegations of interference with the freedom to use Welsh, is absolute. The Commissioner is also entirely free to voice his opinion on matters relating to the Welsh language. However, I am equally clear that by working together to increase the use of Welsh, both the Welsh Government and the Commissioner can collectively achieve more. 


I am therefore delighted to announce that Aled Roberts and I have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding which provides clarity to both organisations about how we will work together, and clarity for stakeholders and the public regarding which organisation leads on which strands of work aimed at increasing the use of Welsh. The Memorandum has been published on the Welsh Government’s website https://gov.wales/memorandum\-understanding\-between\-welsh\-government\-and\-welsh\-language\-commissioner


I am confident that by taking just this simple step forward we will see better, more joined\-up effort by both organisations to work together towards the common goal of more use of Welsh. 


### **Prosiect 2050**


The Committee’s report reflects on the evidence it received from stakeholders who felt that a missing component of the current policy delivery landscape was sufficient intervention rooted in the principles of language planning, designed to address the fundamental issue of the social use of Welsh. These are aims which we all share. The Welsh Language Partnership Council which advises me on the Welsh Ministers’ Welsh language strategy has also expressed a desire to see more focus on language planning.


Some stakeholders have argued in favour of establishing a new external body or agency to promote the Welsh language (in addition to the Commissioner as regulator and the Welsh Government as strategy lead). I have already ruled out creating such a body on the basis that it would create confusion for the public, with a high risk of duplicating functions. It would also create additional overhead costs, taking scarce funding away from programmes and services which would be of direct benefit to increasing the use of Welsh.


I have therefore come to the conclusion that the Welsh Government is best placed to lead on the development of new initiatives to deliver Cymraeg 2050\. Cymraeg 2050is our national language plan and it is only right and proper that the Welsh Government takes a national lead on language planning. 


To provide greater focus and rigour in language planning, promotion and behaviour change, both within the Welsh Government and externally, I have made funding available to employ experts to lead and advise Prosiect 2050, a new multi\-disciplinary delivery unit within the Welsh Government which will be responsible for driving Cymraeg 2050\. 


The funding of nearly £30,000 from January\-March 2020, followed indicatively with around £115,000 in 2020\-21, will be used to enhance the language planning expertise within Welsh Government by funding a new civil service post to head Prosiect 2050*,* and to commission a panel of up to 4 external expert advisers on language planning and related disciplines such as behaviour change.


Prosiect 2050will be tasked with: 


* co\-ordinating the planning for our route to a million speakers, from early years through Welsh\-medium statutory education provision to post\-compulsory education to Welsh for adults
* creating new initiatives, and evaluating current initiatives, specifically aimed at achieving our target of doubling the use of Welsh, and
* supporting policy areas across the Welsh Government to contribute to the maintenance of our Welsh\-speaking communities and to the increased use of Welsh, in alignment with Cymraeg 2050\.


Prosiect 2050will also work with partners across Wales and beyond to help deliver our goals together. As already mentioned, the Welsh Language Commissioner will be a key partner in doing so. We will also give a warm welcome to others who share our national goals for Welsh, whether that’s just to put up bilingual signage in business, to contribute ideas for initiatives to see and hear more Welsh in the community, or to help spread the word. 


Prosiect 2050will report to me as Minister and will work closely with the Welsh Language Partnership Council, which advises me on our Welsh language strategy. I am confident that the combined experience and expertise of Prosiect 2050and the Partnership Council will together provide me with assurance that we are on the right to track as we implement the Cymraeg 2050strategy.


This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should Members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Assembly returns I would be happy to do so.







Translation:


 
Ar 9 Gorffennaf, cyhoeddodd Pwyllgor Diwylliant, y Gymraeg a Chyfathrebu ei adroddiad yn dilyn ei ymchwiliad i 'Cefnogi a Hybu'r Gymraeg'. Heddiw rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at y Pwyllgor yn nodi fy ymateb i'w 14 argymhelliad. Hoffwn ddiolch i bawb a roddodd dystiolaeth i'r Pwyllgor, ac i Aelodau'r Pwyllgor am eu gwaith gofalus wrth ystyried y dystiolaeth. 


Mae gennym raglen fentrus a chyffrous ar gyfer ein gwlad i sicrhau bod gennym filiwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg erbyn 2050\. Fel Llywodraeth, rydym wedi ymrwymo i hyn, ac rwyf wrth fy modd bod cymaint o gefnogaeth o wahanol gyfeiriadau i'r uchelgais cyffrous hwn. 


Yn y Papur Gwyn a gyhoeddwyd yn 2017, ein dadl oedd bod y pwyslais ym mholisi'r Gymraeg wedi symud yn rhy bell i gyfeiriad rheoleiddio ar draul dulliau polisi eraill. Gan nad oeddwn o'r farn bod cefnogaeth ddigonol i newid y strwythurau er mwyn cyflawni'r nod polisi hwn, penderfynwyd ym mis Chwefror na fyddem yn bwrw ymlaen â'r Bil. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n dal i gefnogi’r dadansoddiad bod angen dod o hyd i well cydbwysedd rhwng rheoleiddio i ddarparu hawliau i siaradwyr Cymraeg ac ymyraethau eraill i: 


 


* gynyddu nifer y siaradwyr Cymraeg i filiwn erbyn 2050;
* dyblu'r defnydd beunyddiol o'r Gymraeg;
* cynnal cymunedau Cymraeg eu hiaith.


 


Rwyf yn croesawu argymhellion y Pwyllgor felly. Ers y penderfyniad i beidio â bwrw ymlaen â'r Bil, rwyf wedi bod yn creu cynlluniau ar gyfer gweithredu llawer o'r hyn y mae'r Pwyllgor yn galw amdano. Amlinellaf y cynlluniau hynny isod.


 


**Safonau**


Mae'n bleser gennyf gadarnhau bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi bod rheoliadau newydd ar gyfer safonau yn ymwneud â'r Gymraeg yn cael eu datblygu ar gyfer dau sector \-mewn perthynas â chwmnïau dŵr a rheoleiddwyr gofal iechyd. Caiff y rheoliadau hynny eu datblygu mewn ffordd sy'n gyson ag argymhelliad y Pwyllgor o ran addasu safonau, drwy symleiddio neu gyfuno sawl safon sydd â'r un nod neu ddeilliant.


Rydym wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau hawliau pobl mewn perthynas â gwasanaethau Cymraeg, a byddaf yn gwneud datganiad pellach yn yr hydref ynghylch y rhaglen dreigl o safonau. 


 


**Perthynas Llywodraeth Cymru â Chomisiynydd y Gymraeg**


Pan gyhoeddais y penderfyniad i beidio â bwrw ymlaen â Bil y Gymraeg, fe'i gwnes yn glir fy mod yn disgwyl i Gomisiynydd y Gymraeg wneud rhai newidiadau i'r ffordd y caiff ei swyddogaethau eu cyflawni. I fod yn glir, rwy'n parhau i bwysleisio bod annibyniaeth y Comisiynydd o ran monitro a gorfodi safonau, ac wrth gynnal ymchwiliadau i honiadau o ymyrraeth â'r rhyddid i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg, yn absoliwt. Mae'r Comisiynydd yn gwbl rydd hefyd i leisio ei farn ar faterion sy'n ymwneud â'r Gymraeg. Fodd bynnag, rwyf yr un mor glir y gall Llywodraeth Cymru a'r Comisiynydd, fel ei gilydd, drwy gydweithio i gynyddu'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg, gyflawni mwy. 


Rwyf wrth fy modd, felly, yn cyhoeddi bod Aled Roberts a minnau wedi cytuno Memorandwm Cyd\-ddealltwriaeth sy'n rhoi eglurder i'r ddau sefydliad ynghylch sut y byddwn yn cydweithio, ac eglurder i randdeiliaid a'r cyhoedd ynghylch pa sefydliad sy'n arwain ar ba elfennau gwaith i geisio cynyddu'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg. Mae'r Memorandwm wedi'i gyhoeddi ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru https://llyw.cymru/memorandwm\-cyd\-ddealltwriaeth\-rhwng\-comisiynydd\-y\-gymraeg\-llywodraeth\-cymru


Rwy'n hyderus y bydd y cam syml hwn yn arwain at ymdrech well, fwy cydlynol gan y ddau sefydliad i gydweithio tuag at y nod cyffredin o gynyddu'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg. 


 


**Prosiect 2050**


Mae adroddiad y Pwyllgor yn rhoi sylw i'r dystiolaeth a gafodd gan randdeiliaid a oedd yn teimlo bod elfen goll yn y tirlun presennol o ran gweithredu polisi yn ddigon o ymyrraeth, yn seiliedig ar egwyddorion cynllunio ieithyddol, gyda'r nod o fynd i'r afael â chwestiwn sylfaenol, sef defnydd cymdeithasol o'r Gymraeg. Mae'r rhain yn amcanion rydyn ni i gyd yn eu rhannu. Mae Cyngor Partneriaeth y Gymraeg sy'n rhoi cyngor imi ar strategaeth iaith Gweinidogion Cymru hefyd wedi mynegi dymuniad i ganolbwyntio'n fwy ar gynllunio ieithyddol.


Mae rhai rhanddeiliaid wedi dadlau o blaid sefydlu corff neu asiantaeth allanol newydd i hybu'r Gymraeg (yn ychwanegol at rôl reoleiddio'r Comisiynydd a rôl arwain strategol Llywodraeth Cymru). Rwyf eisoes wedi penderfynu peidio â chreu corff o'r fath ar y sail y byddai'n creu dryswch ymhlith y cyhoedd, a bod risg uchel o ddyblygu swyddogaethau. Byddai hefyd yn creu gorbenion ychwanegol, gan gymryd cyllid prin oddi wrth raglenni a gwasanaethau a fyddai'n help uniongyrchol i gynyddu'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg.


Rwyf wedi dod i'r casgliad, felly, mai Llywodraeth Cymru sydd yn y sefyllfa orau i arwain ar y gwaith o ddatblygu mentrau newydd i gyflawni *Cymraeg 2050\.* *Cymraeg 2050* yw ein cynllun iaith cenedlaethol, a Llywodraeth Cymru felly ddylai roi arweiniad cenedlaethol ar gynllunio ieithyddol. 


Er mwyn sicrhau mwy o ffocws a thrylwyredd wrth gynllunio'n ieithyddol, hybu'r Gymraeg a newid ymddygiad ieithyddol, o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru ac yn allanol, rwyf wedi darparu cyllid i sefydlu *Prosiect 2050*, uned amlddisgyblaethol newydd o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru a fydd yn gyfrifol am yrru *Cymraeg 2050* yn ei blaen*.* 


Caiff y cyllid o bron i £30,000 o Ionawr\-Mawrth 2020, a £115,000 i ddilyn yn 2020\-21 ar sail dangosol, ei ddefnyddio i wella'r arbenigedd cynllunio ieithyddol o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru drwy gyllido swydd newydd o fewn y gwasanaeth sifil i arwain *Prosiect 2050*, ac i gomisiynu panel o hyd at bedwar cynghorydd arbenigol allanol ar gynllunio ieithyddol a disgyblaethau cysylltiedig megis newid arferion.  


 


Rhoddir y tasgau canlynol i *Prosiect 2050*: 


* cydlynu'r gwaith o gynllunio ein llwybr tuag at sicrhau miliwn o siaradwyr, o'r blynyddoedd cynnar, drwy ddarpariaeth addysg statudol cyfrwng Cymraeg, i addysg ôl\-orfodol i Gymraeg i Oedolion;
* creu mentrau newydd, a gwerthuso mentrau cyfredol, gyda'r nod penodol o gyrraedd ein targed o ddyblu defnydd o'r Gymraeg;
* cefnogi meysydd polisi ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru i gyfrannu at y gwaith o gynnal ein cymunedau Cymraeg a chynyddu'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg, yn unol â *Cymraeg 2050\.*


Bydd *Prosiect 2050* hefyd yn cydweithio â phartneriaid ledled Cymru a thu hwnt er mwyn cyflawni ein hamcanion gyda'n gilydd. Fel y nodwyd eisoes, bydd Comisiynydd y Gymraeg yn bartner allweddol. Byddwn hefyd yn rhoi croeso cynnes i eraill sy'n rhannu ein hamcanion cenedlaethol o ran y Gymraeg, boed drwy greu arwyddion dwyieithog mewn busnesau, cyfrannu syniadau ar gyfer cynlluniau newydd i weld a chlywed mwy o Gymraeg yn y gymuned, neu i helpu i ledu'r gair. 


Bydd *Prosiect 2050* yn atebol i mi fel Gweinidog, ac yn gweithio'n agos gyda Chyngor Partneriaeth y Gymraeg, sy'n rhoi cyngor i mi ar ein strategaeth ar gyfer y Gymraeg. Rwy'n hyderus y bydd profiad ac arbenigedd cyfun *Prosiect 2050* a'r Cyngor Partneriaeth yn rhoi'r sicrwydd imi ein bod ar y trywydd iawn wrth roi strategaeth *Cymraeg 2050* ar waith.   


Caiff y datganiad ei gyhoeddi yn ystod y toriad er mwyn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau. Os bydd aelodau eisiau i mi wneud datganiad pellach neu ateb cwestiynau ynglŷn â hyn pan fydd y Cynulliad yn dychwelyd, byddwn yn hapus i wneud hynny.