August 2006

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MERGING OF WELSH LANGUAGE BOARD WITH GOVERNMENT PLANNED

August 2006 - Meri Huws, Chair of the Welsh Language Board, welcomed the positive steps taken by the Assembly of Wales and the UK Government to strengthen the position of the Welsh language in the Government of Wales Bill.

As a result of passing the Bill, it will be a statutory duty for the Assembly Government to treat Welsh and English on the basis that they are equal and to implement and regularly revise a statutory Language Plan. The Government will have a duty to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language and to maintain, update and evaluate a policy outlining how it intends to do so.

Furthermore, and with regard to the Government actions, Alun Pugh, Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport, confirmed the details for the process of merging the Welsh Language Board with Government and setting up the office of the Dyfarnydd (adjudicator) on a statutory basis.

Alun Pugh said that "merging the Welsh Language Board with Government will improve democratic accountability and crucially create a powerhouse for growing the Welsh language at the heart of Government". He added that "we intend to use the provisions of the Government of Wales Bill to bring this about."