This is a copy of the letter on cutbacks to the Welsh language, sent by Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair to Y Cymro and Golwg. A copy has also been sent to all Assembly Members, seeking their comments and support

Dear Editor,

Dyfodol i’r Iaith have highlighted the fact that the Welsh Government’s budget is set to rise each year until 2019/20 and that there is therefore no financial justification for cutbacks of 6% to funding for the Welsh language. These are the facts, but the Government is attempting to reconfigure and hide the true situation.

A spokesperson for the Government stated that Dyfodol i’r Iaith’s claims were “misleading” and that they do not “reflect the reality of the financial situation.”

But who is deceiving who? This is the money that the Welsh Government receives annually from the London settlement:

2015-6             £14.38 billion

2016-7             £14.56 billion

2017-8             £14.67 billion

2018-19           14.77 billion

2019-20           14.93 billion

By 2019-20, the Government will be receiving an additional half a billion pounds. This represents an increase of about 4%. The Government states however that that the money it receives will continue to diminish in real terms; that is, its true worth, allowing for inflation.

If the Government continued to provide the same amount for the Welsh language, its real value would therefore decrease in line with the rate of inflation. But by cutting the funding available for the language, it suffers twice – in terms of the real money- a cutback of 6% – and the money’s value allowing for inflation.

There can only be one explanation for these cutbacks to the Welsh language, and that is that the Government sets it low on its list of priorities.

This comes in the wake of many other blows to the language and its speakers:

• Cuts to S4C and further threats
• The Government’s failure to secure the growth of Welsh-medium education
• Government cutbacks to Welsh for Adults
• A 10% cut to Welsh publishing

Dyfodol i’r Iaith are very happy to praise the Government when this is deserved. Any money spent on the Welsh language pays back generously – in terms of jobs, attracting volunteers, maintaining culture and creating opportunities for people to use the Welsh language.

A clear vision is now needed of how to increase the use of the Welsh language and the number of its speakers. The Government claims to give priority to all activities that increase the use of the Welsh language. But no other country has ever seen linguistic advance following cutbacks to its language. Is our Government in on some secret in this respect?

Honesty in respect of discussing cutbacks to the Welsh language has to be the first step to ensuring a creative conversation,

Yours Sincerely,

Heini Gruffudd

Chair, Dyfodol i’r Iaith

Dyfodol i’r Iaith have sent a series of critical comments on the Government’s draft Budget to the Assembly’s Budget Committee. The organisation challenges the very basis upon which the spending cuts to the language have been proposed, and calls upon the Welsh Government to reconsider these damaging proposals which contradict their own strategic aims and legal duties.

Dyfodol states that the draft Budget shows that the Welsh Government receives more funding annually from London and that cuts to the Welsh language are totally unnecessary.

The Government will receive 4% more money by 2019-20, and the sum will increase yearly until then.

The figures used by the Government to justify the cutbacks is based upon inflation at a level of 3.6%. This is far higher than the maximum of 0.5% seen during 2015 and also higher than Trading Economics’ forecast of 2.1% by 2020. Cutbacks to spending on the Welsh language will be increased with inflation, in spite of the fact that that the Welsh Government’s budget is, in fact, increasing. This is clearly a decision based upon a lack of priority and vision for the Welsh language, rather than any economic necessity.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair said “In introducing these cutbacks, the Government is contradicting its own policy commitments to the Welsh language. At this key time, we are faced with shameful cuts to Welsh language culture, arts and broadcasting. At the same time, projects aimed at promoting the language are being cut and cancelled, while growth in Welsh language education remains unsatisfactory. Not much imagination is required to foresee the devastating cumulative effect all of this will have on the aim of increasing the use of the language.”

“Rather than imposing cuts on these key areas, the Welsh Government needs to present a comprehensive programme, which puts due emphasis on promoting Welsh language use in all aspects of family, social and cultural life in addition to promoting its use within the workplace. This will simply not be possible without appropriate funding.”