Public sector bodies and the Welsh Language Act

The Welsh Language Act 1993 details definite steps to be taken by the Welsh Language Board and by public sector bodies such as local authorities, health trusts and government agencies - including institutions outside Wales - in the preparation and implementation of Welsh Language Schemes. These schemes set out which services will be available in Welsh and how and when they will be provided.

Before Language Schemes are approved by the Board, they will usually need to go out to public consultation. The results of these consultations are taken into account as part of the approval process.

Scheme implementation is monitored by the public bodies themselves and the Board. It is expected that the organisations prepare annual progress reports, and the Board will undertake a fuller evaluation of the Scheme and scheme implementation after about 3-4 years. The Board will also commission snapshot surveys and fuller investigations at times to assess the Scheme's success and the quality of the Welsh medium service offered.

What is a Welsh Language Scheme? 

Put simply, a Language Scheme is a document which allows Welsh speakers to receive public services in their own language as a matter of course, just as English speakers can.

In addition, a Language Scheme outlines how the public body considers the linguistic dimension to their public functions to ensure that their work facilitates linguistic equality, without undermining the Welsh language.
Language Schemes ensure that the following are available in Welsh and English, in accordance with the individual's language choice:
• applying for a passport or driving licence
• receiving health services
• sorting out VAT or income tax affairs
• phoning helplines
• getting advice on benefits or in a Job Centre
• receiving information from local councils

Preparing Welsh Language Schemes

The Statutory Guidelines ‘Welsh Language Schemes – Their preparation and approval in accordance with the Welsh Language Act 1993’, outlines what should be included within a Welsh Language Scheme. The document also provides guidance on how to go about preparing a Scheme. Click on the link on the right hand side of this page to download the document.

In terms of contents, the Scheme should note the measures the organisation intends to take to implement the principle of equality as laid out in section 5 of the Act, and the way the organisation intends to implement each of those measures. A summary of the measures needed in a Welsh Language Scheme is also available.

Additional advice when preparing a Scheme:
In addition to the Statutory Guidelines, the Board has prepared the following guidance (see the links on the right hand side of this page):
Standard Welsh Language Scheme for Town & Community Councils: This is a template Scheme which can be adapted and adopted by Town & Community Councils.
Appendix for Colleges of Further & Higher Education: An appendix to the Statutory Guidelines for Further and Higher Education establishments on how to prepare a Language Scheme.

Consultation Process
Having agreed on a draft Language Scheme, the draft usually needs to go out to public consultation, prior to receiving the Board’s approval. The consultation responses are considered as part of the approval process.
Monitoring Welsh Language Schemes

Reviewing and Revising Welsh Language Schemes
Scheme implementation will be monitored by the public body and the Board. The public bodies will prepare annual progress reports which will be considered by the organisation's Council or Board of Governors before being presented to the Welsh Language Board. The Annual Monitoring Report Framework provides guidance on the aspects that need to be monitored and suggestions on the kind of monitoring systems which can be adopted. The Board considers these reports along with other evidence from the public and others. Independent surveys from the service user's perspective are also commissioned by the Board occasionally, to gauge the success of language schemes.

After a period of implementing the Language Scheme (approximately 3-4 years), the time will come to evaluate the organisation's performance and revise the Scheme. At that time, the organisation and the Board will undertake a fuller evaluation of the Scheme and its implementation with a view to reviewing and revising the Welsh Language Scheme.