Welsh language plan gets tongue-lashing

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Welsh language plan gets tongue-lashing
7/4/2006

Plans to scrap the Welsh Language Board have drawn fierce condemnation
from opposition political parties and other organisations. Culture
Minister Alan Pugh published a consultation paper which foresees a
Ministerial Advisory Panel on the language, the appointment of a Dyfarnydd
(regulator) once the Assembly acquires the legal power and a residual
Welsh Language Board until the Dyfarnydd is appointed to carry out
arm's-length functions. The paper does not call this the abolition of the
Board but its merger with the Welsh Assembly Government.

But Plaid Cymru is to call on the Auditor General to investigate whether
the Labour Government is allowed to use public money to abolish the Welsh
Language Board. Plaid Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones warned of the major threat to
the language after it was revealed that the Labour Assembly Government
intends to ignore an Assembly resolution instructing them to postpone the
abolition. And Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, the Welsh Language Society,
responded with a call for a New Welsh Language Act to give the Welsh
Language official status, establish basic language rights, and create the
post of Welsh Language Commissioner.

Welsh Conservative spokeswoman on the Welsh language Lisa Francis AM said:
"These proposals are yet another example of the Labour government's drive
towards one size fits all uniformity in Wales. The Assembly Government
should be offering advice and support to the Welsh language, not imposing
diktats on its use and development. What we need is an independent Welsh
Language Board with independent experts free from the shackles of the Sir
Humphrey-style civil service bureaucracy that has become an
all-too-familiar feature of the Assembly Government." Alun Pugh said: "The
merger will mainstream the Welsh language more effectively across
Government portfolios, bring together policy development and delivery and
remove any dual decision making process to provide clarity for grant
recipients.

"The aim of merging the Welsh Language Board with the Assembly Government
is to enhance democratic accountability and mainstream the Welsh language
within government, across all policy areas. This continues the process
that was started with abolishing the WDA, WTB, Elwa and ACCAC. "The
consultation outlines the Assembly proposals for the arrangements for the
merger and transfer of functions, and how the merger will benefit the
people of Wales. As this is a consultation, I am happy to discuss the
detail of the arrangements. We will carefully consider amendments.

"I would urge everyone who has a view to email responses, write in or take
part in the consultation meetings that are being set up to inform the
process." The consultation paper was published yesterday 6 April and
responses need to be submitted by 27 May. The consultation paper can be
found at
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/welsh_language/welsh_language_consultation/?l
ang=en>. Copies can be requested by contacting the Welsh Language Board
Merger Consultation, Directorate for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport,
Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NX. Meetings will also be held across Wales
in order to gain as wide a range of views as possible. These are currently
being set up and will take place in May.

http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Culture&F=1&id=8752