The Welsh Language Board has used its power to the full by referring the broadcasting regulator Ofcom to the Assembly Government for failing to prepare an agreeable Welsh language scheme.

The Board asked Ofcom to include a measure in its language scheme committing to consider the linguistic nature of different communities in Wales when awarding radio broadcast licenses, but Ofcom refused to do so. The Board won’t approve the language scheme without this key measure.

Chair of the Welsh Language Board, Meri Huws, said:

“Making sure that people in Wales have the opportunity to receive local radio services in their preferred language is key to achieving the Government’s objective of enabling people to choose to live their lives through the medium of Welsh, and Ofcom has refused to support that objective.

“It is disappointing that we have had to use our statutory powers to the full in this case, and that Ofcom has been unwilling to cooperate with us. In referring the matter to the Minister for Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones, we ask him to use his powers to force Ofcom to adopt a Welsh language scheme that includes the necessary measures regarding radio licenses."

Commercial radio broadcasting has a key role to play in increasing the choice of Welsh language programmes available to the public. It also has a prominent role in increasing the status of the language and in getting closer to realizing the Welsh Assembly Government’s goal of creating a truly bilingual Wales.