Does the Minister plan to have discussions with other financial institutions who are currently offering Welsh-language services to seek assurance their services will remain, given that HSBC UK is removing Welsh-language services?
I have been clear that increasing the use of Welsh in all aspects of life is one of my priorities since becoming Minister for Education and Welsh Language. I was therefore disappointed to hear that HSBC intend to remove their Welsh-language telephone service. Promotion of the Welsh language in the banking sector is the responsibility of the Welsh Language Commissioner. I know the Commissioner has already written to HSBC to see what can be done about this situation, and a meeting has been arranged with them in the next week. I will discuss her wider work with the banking sector during our next meeting which will be held before the end of this month.