Assembly Members to work with Westminster on proposed Welsh Language LCO

Assembly Members scrutinising the proposed Welsh Language LCO will meet with their counterparts in Westminster to exchange their views on the LCO.

The chair of the National Assembly’s Legislation Committee No.5, Mark Isherwood AM, has agreed to a joint meeting during a video conference meeting with Hywel Francis MP, chair of the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee in Westminster.

The two committees will now meet, after they’ve both finished taking evidence, to share their findings.

“The Welsh language is an issue that everyone in Wales has a stake in, whether they speak the language or not,’’ said Mr Isherwood.

“That’s why it’s so important that we, the politicians, get the scrutiny process right. That means working closely with our colleagues in Westminster.

“And that’s why Dr. Francis and I have agreed that the National Assembly’s Legislation Committee 5 and the Welsh Affairs Select Committee should hold a joint meeting.

“We need to establish a good working relationship with them on this and on any proposed LCOs we may have to consider in future.”

The Chairman of the Welsh Affairs Committee, Dr Hywel Francis MP, said:

“As with other LCOs my Committee has scrutinised, I am pleased to establish effective working practices with colleagues in the Assembly. My meeting with Mark Isherwood was extremely valuable. We were able to share information about the LCO and planned a further meeting between the members of both Committees to exchange our views after the evidence gathering process has concluded. “

Legislation Committee No.5 met on March 17, when it heard evidence from Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (the Welsh Language Society), Celebrating our Language and National Rail Enquiries. It has already taken evidence from business representatives, including the CBI, as well as the Welsh Language Board and Mentrau Iaith Cymru.

The committee will continue taking evidence during March and April, and will report by 5 June 2009.

The Assembly Committee’s public consultation on whether the Welsh Assembly Government should be allowed to legislate on the Welsh language remains open until March 20.