Improvements needed to proposed new Welsh Language Measure in order to make law work for everyone in Wales
23 July 2010
The cross-party committee of Assembly Members charged with srutinising the proposed Welsh Language Measure has called for wide-ranging changes to the draft law.
Although the Committee agrees in principle with the Measure’s aim, they believe there are aspects of the law that need “improving or changing”.
“We support the need for legislation to update and modernise the existing framework of Welsh Language legislation,” said Committee Chair Val Lloyd AM.
“In so doing, we have noted the support for such an approach from consultees, although we recognise that for many, there are aspects of the legislation which need improving or changing.”
Amongst the changes that the committee wants to see, is a clear statement of principle contained within the Measure against which the success of the Measure can be judged.
“In our view there is a clear statement of principle missing from the Measure,” Mrs Lloyd added.
“We believe that an overarching statement needs to be incorporated within the measure clearly stating that the purpose of the legislation is to promote and develop the Welsh language, consistent with retaining the support and goodwill of non-Welsh speaker.”
Other changes that the committee wants to see include:
a clear statement in section one of the Measure clearly stating that English and Welsh are the official languages of Wales;
a mechanism contained in the Measure whereby the Welsh Language Commissioner is nominated by the First Minister and then approved by the National Assembly;
that the Minister review the provisions in the Measure that exert some form of Ministerial control over the Welsh Language Commissioner;
that the budget for regulating and promoting the Welsh Language should be subject to annual scrutiny by an Assembly committee;
that members of the Advisory Panel should be nominated by Welsh Ministers and then approved by the National Assembly;
there should be a duty to consult organisations on standards regulations;
the Language Commissioner must also consult with the public when carrying out a standards investigation;
that for the sake of clarity and accuracy, and in addition to the powers of the Language Commissioner, that any instances concerning an individual’s freedom to use Welsh should be dealt with by current race relations and equality legislation.