[lg policy] UK: Labour promises one million Welsh speakers by 2050

[Harold Schiffman]

Labour promises one million Welsh speakers by 2050

    12 April 2016
    From the section Wales Election 2016

Labour's assembly election manifesto will commit to ensuring there are a
million people speaking Welsh by 2050.

In 2011, there were 562,000 Welsh speakers, according to the census.

Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith has previously called for
measures that would lead to a million Welsh speakers.

Labour said "common sense" and "common cause" were needed to promote the
language. Cymdeithas yr Iaith said the party's move was "encouraging".

Labour assembly candidate Sion Jones said: "The idea that Cymdeithas could
have influenced our manifesto in the past is probably hard to imagine,
that's just not the case now, and there's a genuine change of attitude on
all sides.

"To promote the language, we need common sense, common ground and common
cause."

Language campaigners say the next Welsh Government needs to honour any
commitment it has made.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith Chairman Jamie Bevan said: "The idea of reaching a
million Welsh speakers has provoked cross-party support, and most
importantly, public support.

"However, it is relatively easy to commit to a single target.

"In the area of language policy, we have seen a number of key targets set
over the years, but ultimately get unfulfilled."

The Welsh Conservatives say they want to see an increase in the numbers
speaking Welsh outside the classroom and would also develop a network of
"Welsh Language Business Champions".

Plaid Cymru's manifesto makes a commitment to a "genuinely bilingual" Wales
and a target that 50% of seven-year-olds will be in Welsh medium education
by 2030.

The Liberal Democrats say they would target services at young people in
their teens who already speak Welsh as a key group for the future of the
language.

The Lib Dems would also introduce special provision for pupils to catch up
with their peers in learning Welsh.

UKIP say the Welsh language is a source of pride for the nation and the
party would protect the language through Welsh medium education.

https://mail.google.com/mail/#inbox/1540b9e40f323f01?compose=1541032b508da904
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