Housing and Regeneration Minister Carl Sargeant expressed his confidence in the government's recent announcement on TAN 20 which lays out how the planning system should treat the Welsh language.

Mr Sargeant was answering members' questions on the 9 October 2013.

According to the minister the planning system "can help to create the social and economic conditions which give people the opportunity to speak Welsh".

He said: "This revised TAN provides local authorities with clarity regarding how Welsh language considerations should feed into the preparation of their Local Development Plans."

Mr Sargeant added: "The guidance means that local planning authorities who have identified the language as an important local issue, must in future take the language into consideration as part of their Local Development Plan (LDP) and must consult the Welsh Language Commissioner when preparing and reviewing the Plan."

Liberal Democrat AM Aled Roberts accused the government of "delaying" the protection of Welsh Language in planning process.

He said: "The delay in producing this new guidance means that the plans prepared by some authorities are not as robust as they could be."

Plaid Cymru AM Alun Ffred Jones questioned the minister on the guidance and whether or the Welsh language Commissioner would also be able to intervene with local authorities.

Conservative AM Suzy Davies also raised concerns that TAN 20 wouldn't expand the use of the Welsh language.

The minister stressed that TAN 20 was the way forward to supporting the Welsh language, instead of introducing new legislation.

Carl Sargeant AM also answered questions, among others, on the bedroom tax, tackling homelessness and supporting home buyers in Wales.

Darllenwch hwn yn Gymraeg