Efa Gruffudd Jones

Today (3 March) the Welsh Language Commissioner publishes a comprehensive report that examines the state of the Welsh language over the past five years and looks confidently to the future. According to Efa Gruffudd Jones, the next Welsh Government must act intentionally and ambitiously if we are to create more Welsh speakers and double the daily use of the language.

In the report, which is published every 5 years, the Commissioner identifies three main opportunities that need to be addressed in order to strengthen the position of the Welsh language for the future, and they are:

  • Creating confident Welsh speakers through the education system
  • Strengthening the use of the Welsh language in communities
  • Creating workplaces that support the Welsh language.

Within these three areas ten specific priorities have been identified which outline the practical opportunities to make a real difference to the position of the Welsh language. These build on the calls in the Commissioner’s manifesto for the Senedd Cymru election, as well as her strategic plan published last year.

According to Efa Gruffudd Jones, we must respond positively to these calls:

“I am publishing this report as we approach the 2026 Senedd election, a significant election in our history as a nation. Whatever happens in terms of the votes, we know for certain that, for the first time, we will have 96 Members of the Senedd representing the people of Wales. Those members will represent new constituencies, constituencies that have Welsh-only names – a symbolic sign in itself of national confidence and pride in our language.

“But symbolism is not enough. The next Welsh Government needs to act purposefully and positively for the benefit of the Welsh language, by introducing bold interventions in favour of the language. This is the only way to transform the current situation if we are serious about doubling daily use and reaching a million Welsh speakers by 2050.”

The report also offers a detailed analysis of the 2021 Census results in relation to the Welsh language. Its aim is to bring the main statistics together and highlight those that are most significant to the language situation. The report also examines certain regional and local trends and places the 2021 Census results in the context of previous censuses.

According to Efa Gruffudd Jones, the analysis of the Census results is an attempt to delve deeper into the statistics and to gain a better understanding of them,

“This report has three parts and as we consider the Census results in the first part, that provides a foundation for the following sections. We then scrutinise data from other sources about creating Welsh speakers and increasing the use of the language, and we track key policy developments in these areas. We end each section by identifying priorities and opportunities for the next five years.

“In essence, the report is an invitation to the new Welsh Government, Members of the Senedd from all parties, policymakers, and all of us who take an interest in the Welsh language, to read our analysis of the situation of the language. Only by pausing to understand and consider the state of the Welsh language today can we plan effectively for tomorrow.

“I have great ambition for the Welsh language and its speakers. I want to see a Wales where living through the medium of Welsh a genuine, everyday choice for its people, and I will remain unwavering in my commitment to achieving this.”

You can read the report.