Welsh Language Scheme for the Welsh Assembly Government / Cynllun Iaith Gymraeg Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru

I am delighted to confirm that the Welsh Language Scheme for the Welsh Assembly Government was unanimously approved by the Welsh Language Board at its open Board meeting on 4 October 2002.

I perhaps need to emphasise the words “for the Welsh Assembly Government”, because this Scheme does not cover the functions carried out by the Presiding Office. Neither does the Scheme cover individual Assembly Members.

The Scheme was prepared in line with section 21 of the Welsh Language Act 1993. The responsibilities of the Assembly under that section have been delegated to me as the Minister for Culture, Sport and the Welsh Language. I prepared the Scheme with the agreement of Cabinet colleagues.

The Assembly Government consulted widely on a draft version of the Scheme between 13 May and 5 July this year. We carefully considered the comments received and amended the Scheme accordingly. I am pleased to say that the comments were largely supportive. The final version of the Scheme together with a report on the consultation was then presented to the Welsh Language Board for approval. As I’ve already said, the Board approved the Scheme on 4 October. The Scheme and Report are available on the Assembly Website.

The new Scheme replaces the former Welsh Office Scheme which the Assembly Government inherited and has been operating until now. We as an Assembly Government chose to produce the new Scheme to show our commitment to the Welsh language and to provide our Welsh speaking customers with a clear indication of the level of service they can expect from us.

The Scheme is based on the principle contained in the Welsh Language Act 1993 (and the Government of Wales Act 1998) that the Welsh and English languages should be treated on a basis of equality. The Scheme sets out how the Assembly Government will give effect to that principle in all that it does which is of relevance to the public in Wales.

There are three distinct elements to the Scheme. Firstly, it notes the services in Welsh that others can expect when they deal with the Assembly Government. This covers all forms of contact with us. This might be direct contact – for example by letter, telephone or in person. Or, it might be indirect contact - by seeing our signs and advertisements or receiving our products and material.

The second element is a commitment on behalf of the Assembly Government to exercise its strategic role and influence in a manner which fully reflects the bilingual nature of Wales. So, the Government and its staff will give due weight to Welsh language considerations across policy areas. This covers advice we give to others, funding conditions, and supervising and evaluating services provided by others. This element of the Scheme is a key addition compared to the previous Welsh Office Scheme and signals the Assembly Government’s determination to mainstream Welsh language issues.

The third element is administrative measures to facilitate compliance with the Scheme. The Government recognises the need for robust arrangements to ensure the successful implementation and review of the Scheme. This covers issues such as staffing, training, providing guidelines and briefings for Assembly Government staff, monitoring and reporting.

As you can see then, the new Scheme is a very comprehensive and challenging one. It reflects the particular role and circumstances of the Assembly Government and contains far-reaching objectives. Don’t just take my word for it - that view is endorsed by the Welsh Language Board who stated “It is a thorough Scheme, which… will create a progressive agenda across all service areas in Wales, and within the Assembly itself”. The Board also described the Scheme as “an important catalyst in the work of driving the Welsh agenda forward over the coming years”.

As well as being a practical demonstration of the Assembly Government’s commitment to the Welsh language, the Scheme also contributes to the Government’s broader policy aspirations on the Welsh language. The Scheme reflects the Assembly Government’s intention to create the right conditions in which the Welsh language can grow and flourish. On that point, I will shortly be publishing the Assembly Government’s Action Plan for the Welsh Language. The Action Plan will be a comprehensive strategy for the language and will involve a blend of policies designed to support the language across the range of Assembly Government Ministerial portfolios. The Action Plan will contain concrete measures in support of the language which will be linked to budget allocations.

Although the Scheme and the Action Plan are separate entities, there is a good deal of common ground between them. This is particularly the case in terms of mainstreaming the language and ensuring that all policy areas take responsibility for its well being. Mainstreaming, of course, was a major theme in the Culture Committee’s Policy Review of the Welsh Language. The Scheme will also make a significant contribution to elements of the Action Plan by ensuring opportunities for the public to use the language.