National Assembly for Wales

As I’ve previously stated, Cymraeg 2050 is an ambitious long-term strategy. Our initial efforts have concentrated on laying firm foundations for the future, building from the ground up to secure enough learners through the education system. We’re on track to reach our 2021 targets regarding early years and the WESPs.

In 2019-20, the Welsh Government has allocated £603,000 to the National Eisteddfod through the Welsh language promotion grant scheme.

I propose to adopt a closer working relationship with the UK Government, and its departments, to ensure Wales’s interests are being represented and in helping them to understand Welsh expectations and delivery. I have already met with the Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Secretary of State for Wales.

The Welsh Government acknowledges Captain Archibald Dickson’s rescue of over 2,000 republican refugees from Alicante harbour on 28 March 1939 and the lasting bond of goodwill that his heroic humanitarian act has created between the people of Alicante and Cardiff.

The Welsh Government has a wide range of policies that derive from Cymraeg 2050. Some are directly implemented by the Welsh language division and others are mainstreamed through the work and policies of other Government departments.

The primary focus of the Welsh Government network of overseas offices is to identify and secure inward investment and export opportunities for Wales. They also support the promotion of a range of Welsh interests internationally in a number of areas, including education and culture.

The Welsh Government recognises the importance of international trade to the economy and is committed to continuing to support businesses to export their goods and services across the world. Support is available for all stages of their export journey, from first steps through to new market entry and beyond.

In January, I announced my intention to produce a new strategy outlining our international vision. We are still in the drafting stages and I expect to submit a draft to Cabinet in early May, with the final document ready for publication before the summer.

As part of my forthcoming budget bilaterals, I will discuss a range of financial matters across all portfolios, including funding for research and development in Wales.

‘Managing Welsh Public Money’ sets the framework for how we manage and deploy funding to deliver outcomes for the people of Wales.

The Welsh Government is using its tax powers to support the delivery of strategic priorities. I have no current plans to use taxes to recover costs of asbestos-related diseases. Landfill disposals tax rates have been set to encourage responsible disposal of asbestos. We have committed to reviewing rates by 2023.

We fully recognise the importance of the wider environment for health and well-being. In 2018-19, the Minister for Health and Social Services allocated £3.2 million to local authorities for play opportunities for children, and £510,000 to Play Wales bringing our total investment in play activities in 2018-19 to £3.7 million.

We are allocating in full the consequential of £38 million for 2019-20 as a result of funding allocated to the Department for Education in England, plus allocating nearly £10 million additional from reserves, to provide £47.7 million this year for maintained schools, including sixth forms and FE collages, to meet these costs.