Review of Assembly Bilingual Services

An Independent panel is currently looking at the provision of bilingual services by the National Assembly for Wales.

The four-member Independent Review Panel on Bilingual Services is reviewing current provision by the Assembly Commission and is inviting views from interested parties.

“The views of all Assembly customers are important,” said the Panel’s Chair, Arwel Ellis Owen, “Therefore we welcome submissions from all stakeholders and the community at large.”

The panel is looking at those services provided by the Assembly Commission to Members and the wider public who:

- visit the Senedd;

- use the Assembly website;

- correspond with the Assembly, for example in response to committee inquiries;

- telephone the Assembly;

- read Assembly publications, including legislation

- or otherwise come into contact with the Assembly.

This review concerns only the services of the Assembly and its Commission.

People who want to have their say can write to The Independent Review Panel on Bilingual Services, Ty Hywel, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99, 1NA

Or email to panel@wales.gsi.gov.uk

People can also register their view through the National Assembly accounts at:

Member Profiles:

Arwel Ellis Owen has a wealth of experience in delivering communications as founding Director of family owned communications company Cambrenis Communications. He is also currently Chair of the Centre of Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies at the University of Wales and Vice President of the National Library of Wales. His most recent appointment is Chair of the Care Council for Wales.

Sue Balsom founded her own bilingual PR, Design and Publishing company, FBA in Aberystwyth in 1989. A former Welsh Woman of the Year, Mrs Balsom has served on the WDA, Finance Wales and as Vice Chair of the BBC Broadcasting Council for Wales. Until recently she chaired the Prince’s Trust Cymru and since 2003 has represented Wales on the Content Board of OFCOM, the UK Telecoms and Broadcasting Regulator. This year she was appointed as an Ambassador for Diversity in Public Appointments by the Cabinet Office.

Geraint Evans is an independent retail consultant and Managing Director of Gorsedd Ltd, a commercial property firm. Previously he was managing director of the retail store Dan Evans(Barry) Ltd. He has also been a non-executive director of Associated Independent Store Ltd, the largest non-food buying group in the UK.

Professor Colin Baker is currently the Pro Vice Chancellor of Bangor University and Professor of Education. Prior to this he has had an extensive career as a university lecturer in education with many publications on bilingualism. He was also a Council Member of the Welsh Language Board for 10 years.

The panel’s terms of reference are:

1. The reviewers will:

a) consider the operation of all current bilingual services provided by the Assembly Commission, including developments in bilingual services since the Commission was established in 2007 and the proposals set out in the Assembly Commission’s written statement on 30 September 2009.

b) consider the views of our main customers on current and future bilingual services;

c) having regard to the need to ensure value for money, and drawing on best practice internationally, make recommendations for consideration by the Assembly Commission on the future delivery of the Assembly’s bilingual services, including:

· proposing options for defining and realising the Assembly’s ambition to become a “fully bilingual institution”;

· establishing principles that should underpin the approach to bilingual services; and

· considering all forms of service, including for example new media channels and archive material.

d) recommend a way forward for the Fourth Assembly and beyond (by when the current Welsh language Scheme will have ended).