[lg policy] UK:

[Harold Schiffman]

 Call for Welsh language to be a top priority in 2014  31 Dec 2013 15:21
<http://www.dailypost.co.uk/by-date/31-12-2013>

Language commissioner Meri Huws wants policy makers to consider Welsh in
all future Bills, Acts,  policies and strategies

<http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/call-welsh-language-top-priority-6457678#>


The Welsh language should be a top  priority for policy makers in Wales in
2014.

The call came today from language  commissioner Meri
Huws<http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/commission-keep-up-campaign-protect-5586616>who
wants  it considered in all future Bills, Acts,  policies and
strategies.

 Ms Huws said it had been three  years since the referendum had given
Wales full legislative powers in devolved areas of responsibility.

 She said: “It is now time for the  Welsh Government to develop a
‘rigorously Welsh way’ of drafting laws.

 “Three years have also passed since  the Welsh Language Measure (Wales)
2011 gave the Welsh language official  status.

 “In order for this official status to  become something more than mere
words, the Welsh language must be a  central consideration in all policy
areas.”

 Meanwhile, Cymdeithas yr Iaith  Gymraeg is to publish its ‘alternative
Planning Bill’
<http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/call-put-welsh-heart-planning-6385908>to
highlight the need to  strengthen the impact of housing development on the
language at a community level.

 The society complained the Welsh  Government’s draft planning law,  which
came out in December, failed to  mention the language.

 Now the commissioner has called  on Ministers to ensure  the language  was
recognised when drawing up new  laws.

 Ms Huws said: “Referring to the Welsh language on  the face of acts will
enable the Government to demonstrate it has a  unique way of legislating,
in a way  which meets the specific needs of this  bilingual country and its
citizens.

“The bills which will be discussed  and presented before the Assembly in
2014 have far-reaching implications in  terms of quality of life of the
people of  Wales, for example the bills which  relate to social services
and planning.

 “Referring to the Welsh language on  the face of these bills will enable
the  Government to demonstrate that it  sets out to improve the citizen’s
experience and that it is serious about  seeing the Welsh language thrive.

 “At the beginning of the new year, I  call publicly on Welsh Ministers to
ensure the Welsh language is at the  heart of Government policy and visible
in drafting of legislation in 2014.”

 A Welsh Government spokesperson  said: “Our Welsh language strategy
requires the Welsh language to be  considered at all stages of policymaking.

“All our policies and initiatives need  to reflect that Wales is a
bilingual  country and take account of the impact they have on Welsh
speakers and  communities. In his initial response to  Y Gynhadledd Fawr,
the First Minister  also outlined measures to facilitate the  use of Welsh
in the workplace, and  ensure that the Welsh language is  taken into
consideration across all  ministerial portfolios.”

  The commissioner was established  by legislation in 2011 which obliged
public bodies and some private companies to provide services in Welsh.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/call-welsh-language-top-priority-6457678


-- 
**************************************
N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its
members
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)

For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to
https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/
listinfo/lgpolicy-list
*******************************************
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lgpolicy-list/attachments/20140101/f15ba141/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
_______________________________________________
This message came to you by way of the lgpolicy-list mailing list
lgpolicy-list at groups.sas.upenn.edu
To manage your subscription unsubscribe, or arrange digest format: https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/lgpolicy-list