Written Statement: Publication of Cymraeg 2050 Annual Report for 2023-24

Today, I am pleased to announce the publication of the Cymraeg 2050 Annual Report for 2023-24. 

Under Section 78 of the Government of Wales Act, Welsh Ministers are required to adopt a Welsh Language Strategy and, following each financial year, publish a report on how the strategy was implemented during the financial year in question.

This annual report provides an update on the progress made by the Welsh Government and several of our partners during the 2023-24 financial year in implementing the Cymraeg 2050 strategy. The report reviews the steps taken in response to the Cymraeg 2050 Work Programme for 2021-2026, as well as our Programme for Government. 

The report refers to our efforts during the 2023-24 financial year to achieve the two primary targets:

• Increase the number of Welsh speakers to 1 million by 2050.
• Increase the percentage of the population that speaks Welsh daily and can speak more than just a few words of Welsh from 10% (in 2013-15) to at least 20% by 2050.

The report is structured around the three themes of the Cymraeg 2050 strategy:

1. Increasing the number of Welsh speakers.
2. Increasing the use of Welsh.
3. Creating favourable conditions – infrastructure and context.

Given the comprehensive nature of this report, it is my intention that next year we will publish a more focused document, highlighting the changes which have occurred over the twelve months following the 2023-24 report. 

It’s important to note that this reporting year, as always, should be considered as part of a long term path for Welsh language policy. We therefore organised a technical briefing session for those Members of the Senedd who wished to be part of a wider discussion about the data and trends in this area. Together, we can place the Welsh language on a strong footing for the future, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside our partners in Wales and beyond on this important task.