#BIMR2014 – Assembly Commissioner to address session on bilingualism in parliaments
23 May 2014
The National Assembly for Wales’s Commissioner with responsibility for the Assembly’s Official Languages, Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM, will address a plenary session at the British Isles & Mediterranean Region (BIMR) conference in the Senedd chamber on 28 May.
The session, entitled “Bilingualism and the role of official languages in Parliament”, is one of the key themes of the conference which will be attended by 60 parliamentarians from around the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s (CPA) British Isles & Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Conference is being hosted at the Senedd over two days.
Parliamentarians from legislatures as far afield as Cyprus, the Falkland Islands, St Helena and Malta, as well as delegates form the UK’s other parliaments, will attend in a bid to share best practice.
“The National Assembly should rightly be the focal point of Welsh National life,” Rhodri Glyn Thomas will say during the session.
“Part of that commitment must be, and is, to ensure that the Welsh language plays a central role in Welsh governance and public life.
“I believe the National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Act 2012 has done that.
“Ultimately, the Act places a duty on the Commission to enable the public and Assembly Members to engage with their Assembly in Welsh or English as both languages are equal.”
The Official Languages Scheme defines the standards and services Assembly Members and the public can expect from us over the life of the Scheme.
The important principle that underpins the whole Scheme is that the official languages of Wales – Welsh and English – belong to everyone.
In February this year, the National Assembly celebrated the culmination of a constructive partnership between the Assembly and Microsoft which has seen Welsh added to the Microsoft machine translation system, and which t is now freely available to all Microsoft users.
The introduction of machine translation within the Assembly has significantly increased our ability to work bilingually at all levels.
“We have made significant progress in the provision of innovative and tailored support for Assembly Members, which enables them to work effectively in the official language of their choice, Rhodri Glyn Thomas added.
“For example, we now produce bilingual glossaries of unusual terms used in Bills and more briefings are being developed in both languages simultaneously - a mammoth task, considering the number of official documents issued by the Assembly.
“The system has also improved our ability to respond more quickly to the public and each other in the language of choice.
Joyce Watson AM, Chair of the National Assembly Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, said: “As someone who came from a Welsh-speaking family but who was discouraged from speaking the language because of the experiences of my father, I understand the importance of ensuring that the Welsh language is at the centre of all Assembly business.
“The Welsh and English languages now have equal status as result of the Official Languages Act but we can learn from the language policies of other parliaments. That’s what this discussion is about and one that I hope will enable not only others to learn from our example, but for the Assembly to learn from others.”
The session can be viewed on Senedd TV by clicking here.