The Welsh Language Board will come to an end 31 March 2012, following the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011.
The Board’s work will be divided between:
- Welsh Language Commissioner
- Welsh Government
Duties transferring to the Welsh Language Commissioner:
-
Work with public bodies and language schemes
-
Dealing with complaints by members of the public on the failure of organisations to provide a Welsh language service
-
Advise and promote good practice in the private and voluntary sector
-
Terminology and translation
-
Research into any areas of interest to the Welsh language
Duties transferring to the Welsh Government:
-
Grants to promote Welsh
-
Projects i.e. youth, family and community projects
-
Overseeing Welsh-medium education planning
-
Co-ordinating the work flow of minority languages in the British-Irish Council
The Commissioner
Meri Huws was appointed the first Welsh language Commissioner, and her powers will come to force on April 1 2012.
Role of the Commissioner
-
Promote the use of the Welsh language
-
Facilitate the use of the Welsh language
-
Promote equality between the Welsh and English languages
What’s new following the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011?
-
The Welsh language has an official status in Wales
-
The current procedure of Welsh language schemes will come to an end. It will be replaced by standards, and the Commissioner will form these following a period of consultation
-
The Commissioner will have the power to enforce bodies to comply with the Standard
-
The Commissioner will be able to investigate the failure of an organisation / person to comply with language schemes, and in future, standards. An investigation can also be carried out if an organisation / person has prevented the freedom of Welsh speakers to communicate with each other through the medium of Welsh.
-
An organisation / person can appeal to the Commissioner if it believes that a standard or requirement is unreasonable or disproportionate
-
The organisation / person will be able to appeal further to a Tribunal if it believes that a requirement or standard, or a sanction for failing to comply, is unreasonable or disproportionate. The Tribunal can either affirm, vary or annul the Commissioner’s decision or sanction.
More information on the Welsh language Measure
Welsh Language Measure (Wales) 2011
National Assembly of Wales website