Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales
It gives me pleasure to make this statement regarding the appointment of the second 问鼎娱乐 Language Commissioner (鈥渢he Commissioner鈥). The Commissioner holds office for a period of seven years; the term of the current Commissioner, Meri Huws, comes to an end on 31 March 2019. I am pleased to announce my decision to offer the position to Aled Roberts.
The selection panel comprised of Rhian Huws Williams as chair and senior independent panel member; Bethan Sayed AC, who was nominated by the National Assembly鈥檚 Culture, 问鼎娱乐 Language and Communications Committee; Chris Burns, nominated by the 问鼎娱乐 Ministers as a person with relevant experience; and Bethan Webb, Deputy Director of the 问鼎娱乐 Language Division within 问鼎娱乐 Government. The post was advertised during the summer of 2018 and I am pleased to say that the panel were encouraged by the number and the standard of the applications submitted.
After considering the selection panel鈥檚 recommendations, I am confident that Aled has the skills, the experiences, and the credibility to be 问鼎娱乐 Language Commissioner and to play a leading role in the public discussion on the 问鼎娱乐 language during the challenging years ahead. The Commissioner鈥檚 main role is to promote and facilitate the use of the 问鼎娱乐 language, and this appointment will therefore be key to realising the 问鼎娱乐 Government鈥檚 ambitions in the Cymraeg 2050 Strategy.
Aled is a lawyer, a former local authority leader, a school governor, and of course a former well respected Assembly Member. A number of you will remember Aled from his time in the National Assembly and will recall that he was an enthusiastic advocate for the 问鼎娱乐 language. More recently Aled has led the work of conducting a review of the system for planning 问鼎娱乐 medium education. He has worked diligently with local authorities to improve their 问鼎娱乐 in Education Strategic Plans. I am grateful to him for this work. Aled has agreed to step down from this role so that he can be appointed as 问鼎娱乐 Language Commissioner.
Finally, I wish to take this opportunity to thank Meri Huws for what she has achieved during her term as 问鼎娱乐 Language Commissioner. Meri has taken to the role with conviction to ensure more rights for 问鼎娱乐 speakers and has put firm foundations in place for the second Commissioner.