Category Archives: The Assembly

LANGUAGE STANDARDS AND ORGANISATIONS WHICH RECEIVE PUBLIC FUNDING

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Dyfodol i’r Iaith are pressing for the Language Standards to come into force as soon as possible in relation to organisations which receive over £400,000 of public funding. In the meantime, Dyfodol are also calling on the Welsh Language Commissioner to work within the full extent of her powers to ensure these organisations’ commitment to the Welsh language.
Following the recent complaints regarding the National Botanic Gardens of Wales’s language provision, Dyfodol contacted the Welsh Language Commissioner only to be told that the Gardens’ Language Scheme currently has a “voluntary” status. This means that they are under no statutory obligation to avoid treating the Welsh language less favourably than English until the Language Standards come into force. This is unlikely to come about for some months.
Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol i’r Iaith’s Chair said:
“The Botanic Gardens is a national organisation named within the Welsh Language Measure, and yet they are currently under no obligation to do anything beyond what they volunteer to do. This shows the need to press ahead with the Language Standards.
In the meantime, we would call upon the Commissioner to put pressure on organisations such as the Botanic Gardens to plan and provide Welsh language services for their users. This would be in keeping with the principle of the law, and would encourage organisations to start preparing immediately for the statutory requirements of the Language Standards

DYFODOL SUPPORTS ESTABLISHING A WELSH LANGUAGE AUTHORITY

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There is a need to establish a language authority that will lead the work of promoting the Welsh language.  This is claimed by Dyfodol i’r Iaith following a call by Gareth Jones to establish such a body.

Heini Gruffudd, Chairman of Dyfodol i’r Iaith, said “Since the summer we have been calling for such a body. It has been more and more apparent that there is a need for a new arrangement that will on the one hand safeguard the Welsh language, as the environment is protected, but an arrangement that will on the other hand map a flourishing future for the language.”

“In spite of the Government’s good, it has become obvious that piecemeal decisions are made without coordination. Policies are needed across government departments, which connect with one another and which promote Welsh creatively.”

“The Welsh Language Commissioner’s work, – although valuable – and the good will of civil servants have not established a system that makes a difference for Welsh.  A language authority, run by experts in language planning, and with more powers than the old Welsh Language Board, is essential.”

“We are looking forward to convincing political parties that this is a matter of urgency for the Welsh Assembly and the language.”