The Welsh Courts Act 1942 was the first piece of legislation in four centuries to change the status of the Welsh language. This legislation permited limited use of the language in the courts. The Welsh Language Act 1967 guaranteed the right to use Welsh more widely in court, and also provided for its use in public administration.

But by far the most significant legislation to date in respect of the language is the Welsh Language Act 1993.

This Act, which puts Welsh and English on an equal basis in public life in Wales, represents a milestone in the modern history of the language.

In simple terms, the Act specifies three things:

• it places a duty on the public sector to treat Welsh and English on an equal basis, when providing services to the public in Wales
• it gives Welsh speakers an absolute right to speak Welsh in court
• it establishes the Welsh Language Board to oversee the delivery of these promises and to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language

It is important to note that the authority of the Welsh Language Board in all that it does is therefore derived from this Act of Parliament. It has legally defined functions and its primary duty is to implement the Welsh Language Act 1993.