The next and final group of amendments relate to the National Institute for Learning Welsh—functions and duties. Amendment 71 is the lead amendment. It is to be introduced by Cefin Campbell.

Amendment 71 (Cefin Campbell) moved.

Thank you, Llywydd, and I'm pleased to open the discussion on this last group of amendments. We're almost there, friends.

Amendment 71 is an amendment to section 39, which places a duty on the athrofa to have regard to the assessment of workforce needs undertaken by the Welsh Ministers for inclusion in the national framework. As we have already discussed, the workforce is crucially important to the successful realisation of this Bill's objectives, therefore this, in my view, strengthens the institute's functions in this area.

With regard to Tom Giffard's amendments in this group of amendments, I do not believe that amendment 15 is necessary in terms of providing an update on the number of Welsh speakers in the institute's annual report. Of course, at the start of our work on the Bill, we spoke about calculating the number of Welsh speakers and doing so on an official basis through the census every decade. During the years between each census, a survey of the number of speakers is undertaken annually by the Government and the ONS. But this survey is a sample and not a census of every individual. So, it is likely to be less accurate. Of course, I am sure that these surveys will be addressed within the strategy and the national framework in any case. So, in my view, there is no need to legislate for this.

I also disagree with amendment 14. Evidence demonstrates that education in primarily Welsh language schools is the most effective method of producing confident and independent speakers who are more likely to use Welsh beyond the classroom. That is now reflected in the Bill's explanatory memorandum. So, I'm of the view that amendment 14 undermines this, and, as a result, we cannot support it. Thank you.

As this will be my final contribution today, may I start with a few words of thanks to a few people? I will be brief. If I could start by thanking Sam Kurtz for the work that he has done at Stage 2 of this Bill. That's very important. Could I also thank the Senedd staff who have assisted us throughout this process? May I say a few words of thanks to Tabitha Anthony, in our Conservative group office, and a word about Anna Banks and Bethan Thomas-Rowlands in my office. I always think that I am fortunate every day to have two such strong women in my office to keep me in order.

I wish to speak to amendments 14 and 15, tabled in my name. Amendment 14 places a requirement on the learning Welsh institute to publish a best practice model in relation to teaching methods for learners over compulsory school age. As the amendment sets out, a best practice model would enable young people to get the most out of their education in Welsh, bringing best practice to the fore in terms of teaching and allowing future generations to benefit from these very practices, as well as allowing pupils beyond compulsory school age to continue to use their Welsh language skills.

In addition to this, amendment 15 seeks to enable the annual report to provide an update on the number of Welsh speakers in Wales. We cannot measure our progress without targets and updates, and this would enable the Bill's progress in practice to be accurately measured and tracked. Thank you.

The Cabinet Secretary.

Thank you very much, Llywydd. As this will be my final contribution this afternoon, I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in the development of this Bill to get to the important stage that we have reached today. This includes the committees and everyone who provided evidence at Stage 1. I would like to say a few words of thanks, particularly, to the party spokespeople for their constructive commitment throughout this process, particularly Siân Gwenllian and Cefin Campbell. As you've already heard, this Bill commenced as part of the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru.

Llywydd, I'd also like to give particular thanks to the small team of officials who have developed this Bill from the very outset, over a period of years now, as we reach this important milestone today. I want to acknowledge their commitment and their unstinting professional support. I am so grateful to them all.

So, to turn now to this final group of amendments, the Government introduced an amendment at Stage 2 so that the national framework in Part 4 of the Bill had to include an assessment of the number of education practitioners needed in each local authority to meet targets in the framework. I welcome amendment 71, as it will ensure that there is a clear line of accountability between the planning undertaken at the national level and the plans and arrangements the athrofa makes for the education workforce. The Government will support this, the final amendment from Cefin Campbell.

Turning now to the amendments tabled by Tom Giffard, I cannot support amendment 14, as it is unclear to me what would be gained by the amendment. There is more than just one model of best practice. There are many different approaches based on the differing needs and learning styles of learners. What works well for a young person in school or college may be completely different for an adult learner who is just beginning their language journey later in life.

There can also be differences in what works best in different parts of Wales with differing linguistic profiles. Best practice will differ depending on context. One of the reasons the National Centre for Learning Welsh has been successful has been its ability to tailor its learning to the different needs of learners and workplaces, offering everything from online self-study through to intensive residential courses, and I want to make sure that we retain that flexibility and ability to adapt when the athrofa is established.

I also believe that this amendment is unnecessary given that section 44 already provides for a similar duty to promote the sharing of best practice. In addition, there are various duties in the Bill relating to the design and development of learning, the development of a national curriculum and ongoing professional development for those teaching Welsh, as well as a more general power related to supporting people to learn Welsh and facilitating their progress in that regard. So, the athrofa can already explore what is meant by best practice and provide guidance or advice. In my view, therefore, it's the athrofa itself that is best placed to decide what is best practice and to share it, as is set out in section 44 of the Bill.

I cannot support amendment 15 regarding providing an update on the number of Welsh speakers in Wales. Data on people's ability in Welsh and how often they speak the language is derived from the annual population survey, and the census also provides us with data about the Welsh language skills of people living in Wales. Clearly, I would expect the athrofa to include an update on the number of people over compulsory school age learning Welsh. This would be based on the data that the athrofa is required to collect and publish under section 39. However, others are better placed to source and provide updates on the number of Welsh speakers, and for this reason I call on Members to vote against this amendment. 

The only thing that remains for me to say, Llywydd, is to give my thanks to people, as others have done: those people who've worked on this historic Bill and who have supported the development of the amendments over recent months, the stakeholders who submitted evidence, members of the education committee, the clerks and officials, the lawyers, the researchers, and thanks in particular to Wil Rees—if I may note Wil's contribution—the Plaid Cymru researcher on education and the Welsh language. I would also like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for a number of constructive and positive conversations between Stage 2 and Stage 3 proceedings on this Bill. We haven't agreed on everything, and to use Keir Starmer's words, which is a very strange thing to do when we're discussing a Welsh education Bill, I wanted to go ‘further and faster’, but I recognise the Cabinet Secretary's desire on some elements to take a more pragmatic approach.

However, I look forward to being able to complete the legislative process during Stage 4 of the Bill next week, in order to ensure—because this is what's important—that every child in Wales in the future receives the most valuable gift possible, namely the ability to speak the language of their homeland, which has been one of the unique characteristics of this nation for 15 centuries and more. Thank you to all of you for your contributions, and good night, all.

Not just yet. The question is that amendment 71 be agreed to. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There are objections. We will therefore move to a vote on amendment 71. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 39, no abstentions, 13 against. Amendment 71 is agreed. 

Amendment 71: For: 39, Against: 13, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been agreed

Amendment 14, is it moved, Tom Giffard?

Amendment 14 (Tom Giffard) moved.

Move.

It is. Are there any objections to amendment 14? [Objection.] There are. We will therefore move to a vote on amendment 14. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 13, no abstentions, 39 against. Therefore, amendment 14 is not agreed. 

Amendment 14: For: 13, Against: 39, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been rejected

Cabinet Secretary, amendment 43, is it moved?

Amendment 43 (Mark Drakeford) moved.

Move.

It is. Are there any objections to amendment 43? There are none. The amendment is therefore agreed. 

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 15, Tom Giffard, is it moved?

Amendment 15 (Tom Giffard) moved.

It is. Are there any objections? [Objection.] There are. We will therefore move to a vote. Open the vote on amendment 15. Close the vote. In favour 13, no abstentions, 39 against. Amendment 15 is not agreed.

Amendment 15: For: 13, Against: 39, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been rejected

Amendment 44, is it moved, Cabinet Secretary? 

Amendment 44 (Mark Drakeford) moved.

Move.

It is. Are there any objections to amendment 44? No. It is agreed therefore. 

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 45, is it moved? 

Amendment 45 (Mark Drakeford) moved.

Moved. 

It is. Are there any objections? [Objection.] There are objections to amendment 45. Open the vote on amendment 45. Close the vote. In favour 39, no abstentions, 13 against. Therefore, amendment 45 is agreed. 

Amendment 45: For: 39, Against: 13, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been agreed

Amendment 46, is it moved? 

Amendment 46 (Mark Drakeford) moved.

Moved, Llywydd. 

It is. Are there any objections? There are none. Amendment 46 is agreed. 

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 20, is it moved by the Cabinet Secretary? 

Amendment 20 (Mark Drakeford) moved.

Moved. 

It is. Are there any objections? There are none. Amendment 20 is agreed. 

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 21, is it moved? 

Amendment 21 (Mark Drakeford) moved.

Moved. 

It is. Are there any objections? No. Therefore, amendment 21 is agreed. 

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

And there we are. I am able to declare that this is the end of our Stage 3 consideration of the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill, and I declare that all sections and Schedules of the Bill are deemed agreed. 

All sections of the Bill deemed agreed.

Thank you all for your work throughout this afternoon and into the evening. Thank you.

The meeting ended at 20:46.