National Assembly for Wales

We are aware that there is a potential impact on the Welsh language and on the Welsh Government’s ability to respond to the Cymraeg 2050 strategy following our exit from the European Union. The impacts will be indirect in nature due to the effect on some key sectors, including agriculture, rural areas and the rural economy.

Through our White Paper ‘Securing Wales's Future’ and subsequent policy papers on trade, migration, regional investment, funding and fiscal arrangements and devolution, we have published evidence, analysis and detailed proposals for a Brexit that would protect jobs and the Welsh economy. ‘Securing Wales’ Future’ included an analysis of the potential overall economic impact on Wales from Brexit in line with the best available data, identifying the impact on different sectors and types of business as far as possible with the data available.

We have engaged extensively with stakeholders right from the start to understand their concerns and priorities and to be active in setting out coherent policy positions to influence the UK Government’s approach to exit negotiations and prepare for the multiple possible outcomes. Close working with all parts of Welsh society and frank conversations on the impact of Brexit will be vital in delivering the strongest voice possible for Wales in the negotiations. We are engaging fully with the private, public and third sector including businesses, farmers, trade unions, educational institutions, public services, communities and the public.

Work is continuing across the Welsh Government on policy development which responds to the challenges of exiting the EU. As new policy and activities are developed in response to our exit; where appropriate an assessment of the impact of the new policies on the Welsh Language will be completed.

There are regular discussions between the Welsh Government and the Secretary of State for Wales in regards to our exit from the European Union, including through the Joint Ministerial Committee (European Negotiations). We have not specifically discussed the question of the potential impact of Brexit on Welsh speakers and Welsh-language communities with the Secretary for State or the Welsh Language Commissioner.

We continue to emphasise to the UK Government and to stakeholders in both public and private that there will be negative effects of Brexit on all of the people of Wales, and these will be particularly acute in the case of a no deal outcome to the current negotiations. Such an outcome is likely to impact severely on rural communities, many of which are predominantly Welsh speaking, due to the potentially severe effects on farming of the loss of access to European markets.

All of our skills programmes have a role in supporting the development of a skilled, bilingual workforce in Wales although some programmes more than others have a greater impact on the development of bilingual skills.

The Welsh Government’s current employment and skills programmes, part-funded by the European Social Fund, support our efforts in support of the Welsh language. Programmes such as ReAct, Jobs Growth Wales and our suite of work-based learning programmes contribute to these aims by ensuring that all programmes and services are available and actively promoted through the medium of Welsh and that the learning opportunities are available through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. These programmes also promote the benefits of having Welsh language skills for future employment.

Working Wales, our new all-age employability programme to commence in April 2019, will continue the commitment to the active promotion and embedding of Welsh language in programme delivery. Delivery contractors will be required to support the development of the Welsh language as a skill in the workplace and promote the take up of Welsh language and bilingual training opportunities.

We have been assured that if a transition deal is agreed, the EU programmes will continue to operate as they do now, receiving ESF funding until December 2023. In the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit, HM Treasury have guaranteed all funding approved prior to the point we leave the EU, which will also fund us through to December 2023. In the short term we are maximising drawdown across all programmes to reduce any potential impact post-Brexit.

The key Welsh Government activity for developing Welsh language skills remains the Welsh for Adults programme, co-ordinated by the National Centre for Learning Welsh. As well as mainstream Welsh for Adults provision, the Centre is also responsible for ‘Cymraeg Gwaith’ (‘Work Welsh’), which is targeted specifically at developing employees Welsh language skills and confidence to use the language in the workplace.

The Welsh Government supports a range of activities to support the development of Welsh-medium and bilingual provision in addition to the mainstream education budgets. The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol supports the further education, apprenticeship and higher education sectors with the aim of maintaining and developing Welsh language skills for use in the workplace. These activities along with Welsh for Adults are not dependent on EU funding.

The effect of the measures on NO2 concentrations at the five trial 50mph locations is currently being monitored by diffusion tubes. This will be supplemented with continuous monitoring using reference method analysers by the New Year.

The earliest date that a full set of validated annual data will be available is September 2019 and the information will be published thereafter.

Raytheon is an important employer in North Wales and has developed strong capabilities in public sector and commercial markets. Broughton is home to Raytheon's Mission System Integration Centre of Excellence.

Welsh Government investments in Raytheon to date:

• 2014: £407,704 for the Airborne Solutions business in order to establish Broughton as a centre of excellence for design and programme management creating 50 highly skilled jobs.

• 2016: £4,279 to support the Raytheon Quadcopter Challenge – a programme with schools to inspire the next generation of engineers.

Raytheon employ more than 400 people at their Broughton site. Welsh Government investment support has enabled Raytheon to move into hangars 119 and 125 at Broughton which were previously occupied by Marshall Aviation. Marshall closed their operations in 2017 with the loss of 126 high skilled jobs. It should be noted that the Company went out of its way to take on a number of apprentices who had lost their jobs when Marshalls closed.

Investments such as this are anticipated to result in the creation of a further 200 jobs over the next 3 years – depending on export opportunities.

Defence is a reserved matter under the Government of Wales Act.

Raytheon is an important employer in North Wales and has developed strong capabilities in public sector and commercial markets. Broughton is home to Raytheon's Mission System Integration Centre of Excellence.

Welsh Government investments in Raytheon to date:

• 2014: £407,704 for the Airborne Solutions business in order to establish Broughton as a centre of excellence for design and programme management creating 50 highly skilled jobs.

• 2016: £4,279 to support the Raytheon Quadcopter Challenge – a programme with schools to inspire the next generation of engineers.

Raytheon employ more than 400 people at their Broughton site. Welsh Government investment support has enabled Raytheon to move into hangars 119 and 125 at Broughton which were previously occupied by Marshall Aviation. Marshall closed their operations in 2017 with the loss of 126 high skilled jobs. It should be noted that the Company went out of its way to take on a number of apprentices who had lost their jobs when Marshalls closed.

Investments such as this are anticipated to result in the creation of a further 200 jobs over the next 3 years – depending on export opportunities.

Defence is a reserved matter under the Government of Wales Act.

Data on timescales for dealing for formal complaints in accordance with Putting Things Right is collected using the categories below:

The number which received a final response within the following timescales:

• Within 30 working days of receipt
• Within a period exceeding 30 working days but within 6 months of receipt
• A period exceeding 6 months of receipt
• Still open but yet to hit a specific timescale.

Data on the number of formal complaints not resolved or dealt with within three months, is not collected.

The details of these for the 2017-18 financial year are set out below:

For 2017/18 a target has been set for health boards and trusts to meet the 30 working day target in 75% of cases.  Reports against the target are submitted quarterly and the results monitored to identify any issues and take steps to address them. 

The target was set at 75% as some complaints are too complicated to be dealt with within 30 working days.  The target takes into account the need for a good quality response to complaints to help ensure a satisfactory resolution whenever possible.  The key is to keep patients regularly informed if a delay occurs. 

Data in respect of concerns that are taken through the NHS redress arrangements are recorded separately.  

My officials are in regular contact with the rural charities who have indicated the pressure, as a consequence of the hot and dry weather earlier this year, will materialise from January onwards. Proposals have been received from the charities and we are now considering how best to deliver funding to those in need. There are also a number of governance and state aid requirements which need to be properly addressed.

We are on course to make funding available before the end of the year. In the meantime, the rural charities continue to offer support in the normal way and I will receive an update when I meet with RABI on 28 November.

As part of my response to the hot, dry weather I am ensuring Basic Payment Scheme payments are made from 3 December and loans, for those who are eligible and have applied, are made from 10 December. I am keen to ensure all farm businesses are in a stronger position to manage their cash flow and address the impacts of the hot, dry summer.