<div dir="ltr"><h1 class="">Welsh government job advert breached language policy</h1>
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<ul class=""><li class=""> <div class="">19 June 2015</div>
</li><li class=""><span class="">From the section </span><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/wales/wales_politics" class="">Wales politics</a></li></ul>
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It is the first investigation of its kind by Welsh Language Commissioner Meri Huws
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<p class="">An
advert by the Welsh government to recruit the new children's
commissioner breached it own Welsh language policy, an investigation has
found.</p><p>It is the first investigation into the government by Welsh Language Commissioner Meri Huws under the Welsh Language Act.</p><p>Her report found the government failed to comply with two clauses of its own policy when advertising the post.</p><p>A Welsh government spokesman said it accepted <a href="http://www.comisiynyddygymraeg.org/English/Publications%20List/20150513%20DG%20S%20Adroddiad%20Ymchwiliad%2035%20-%20Llywodraeth%20Cymru%20%28gyda%20atodiadau%29.pdf" class="">the findings</a>.</p><p>Welsh language campaigners Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society) welcomed what it called a "damning" report.</p><p>Jamie
Bevan, from the group, called for an apology from Communities Minister
Lesley Griffiths "who has overall responsibility for this situation".</p><p>The post was first advertised in April 2014 in readiness for Keith Towler stepping down from the role earlier this year.</p><h2 class="">Guidance updated</h2><p>The
original job specification stated it was desirable for candidates to be
able to "communicate verbally with confidence in Welsh".</p><p>But when
the position was re-advertised in October 2014, following a failure to
find a suitable candidate, the wording had changed to omit this
requirement.</p><p>Meri Huws said: "It is concluded, with certainty,
that the decision to shorten the information pack was a purposeful
decision that led to disregarding the requirements of the Welsh language
scheme."</p><p>Her report made four recommendations relating to recruitment processes.</p><p>The
Welsh government spokesman said: "We accept the recommendations made by
the Welsh language commissioner and have updated our public
appointments guidance to ensure Welsh language skills are considered
from the start of the process."</p><p><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-33192709">http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-33192709</a><br></p><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
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