Dyfodol I’r Iaith congratulates Aled Roberts on his appointment as Welsh Language Commissioner and wish him every success in this exciting and challenging role.

We wish Aled Roberts the very best as he embarks upon the work of creating a million Welsh speakers by the middle of this century. We know of his enthusiasm for the language and appreciate the important work that he has already undertaken to review the Welsh in Education Strategic Schemes.

We hope that he will combine practicality with an expansive vision which sets the Welsh language in its rightful place – at the heart of public policy in Wales, thus establishing a firm foundation for its promotion and growth.

Dyfodol i’r Iaith has welcomed the Welsh Government’s Programme for the Welsh language. The organization believes that this Programme, along with the proposed new Commission will build upon experience, by continuing to regulate the language, while putting more emphasis than has been seen in the past on its promotion.

Heini Gruffudd, the organization’s Chair, said:

“There is much to welcome here. Dyfodol i’r Iaith have been pressing from the start for a better balance between regulation and the positive promotion of the Welsh language, and we believe that we need to invest in structures and policies that can achieve this. We need to work towards increasing language skills and creating opportunities to use the language in everyday life; in the home, the workplace and the community. We must expand our horizons, and this Programme, which acknowledges the importance of education, and which is based on the principles of language planning, is a significant step in the right direction.”

He warned however that the success of the Programme, and of the Commission needs to be backed up by investment and commitment:

“The Programme is an ambitious one in terms of language growth – and we welcome that, of course – but it must be given sufficient resources if it is to succeed.”