What measures are being taken by the Welsh Government to attract investment and bolster the population in rural communities, while also protecting the Welsh language?
The Economic Mission: Priorities for a Stronger Economy sets out four national priorities which will help to focus upon the role of partnership and place-based policy. Our approach is based upon working with partnership, such as through the Mid Wales Growth Deal and with local government, including supporting the WLGAs Rural Manifesto. We are supporting economic growth through our Regional Economic Frameworks, which are co-designed with our partners, to deliver a more regionally focussed model of economic development. We are providing business and financial support through Business Wales and the Development Bank of Wales. Through our Foundational Economy approach, we have progressed specific packages of work aimed at shortening food supply chains. These approaches are helping rural producers and growers become more resilient, sustaining businesses who provide access to essential local employment.
A thriving economy in rural areas will also benefit many Welsh-speaking communities. In October 2022, the Welsh Government, as part of the Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru, committed to co-produce phase 2 of the ARFOR programme to create opportunities for young people and families to stay in or return to their local communities. We have published the Welsh Language Communities Housing Plan, which focuses on Welsh-speaking communities with higher numbers of second homes. We have also established the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities to look at the socio-economic and linguistic challenges facing these communities. The Commission published a Position Paper in June this year and will publish its final report by August 2024.