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New Welsh language standards announced for consultation Scope of Welsh language standards announced
(about 17 hours later)
A new set of Welsh language standards has been announced for consultation by the Welsh government after an initial set was rejected as too complicated. A new set of Welsh language standards will impose duties on the Welsh government, councils and national parks, ministers have announced.
Education Minister Leighton Andrews turned down the original proposals from language commissioner Meri Huws. Education Minister Leighton Andrews dropped earlier plans from the language commissioner for being too complicated.
He said in February he would develop revised standards. Plaid Cymru expressed disappointment that the measures would not extend to a wider range of organisations.
Plaid Cymru said the revised proposals "don't cut the mustard," but the Welsh government said it was committed to promoting the language. The standards are due to be in place by November next year, with more to follow "as soon as possible", ministers said.
They are at the heart of legislation passed in 2011 that was meant to promote the Welsh language. Announcing the timetable for the regulations to establish the standards, Mr Andrews said: "The consultation document for the first set of standards will focus on enabling the Welsh language commissioner to impose duties on local authorities, national park authorities and the Welsh ministers."
The standards place binding duties on the public sector and some private companies, such as phone and water firms, so people can use Welsh while receiving services. The standards are at the heart of legislation passed in 2011 to promote the Welsh language.
Mr Andrews said: "I estimated that the regulations making the first set of standards, alongside the regulations making standards specifically applicable to persons, would be made by the end of 2014. They place binding duties on organisations to allow people to use services through the medium of Welsh.
"At the plenary debate on Welsh language standards held on 5 March 2013, I agreed to publish a timetable setting out the steps that need to be taken to make the regulations."
'Paucity of vision''Paucity of vision'
But Plaid Cymru's language spokesman Simon Thomas said: "I'm disappointed that the minister has decided to confine the Welsh language standards to local and national government only.But Plaid Cymru's language spokesman Simon Thomas said: "I'm disappointed that the minister has decided to confine the Welsh language standards to local and national government only.
"This demonstrates a paucity of vision."This demonstrates a paucity of vision.
"The purpose of this measure was to ensure a better provision of services for Welsh speakers and to ensure that Welsh is a truly equal language here in Wales. For this to happen these measures need to extend beyond statutory government bodies. "The purpose of this measure was to ensure a better provision of services for Welsh speakers and to ensure that Welsh is a truly equal language here in Wales.
"For this to happen these measures need to extend beyond statutory government bodies.
"There is no reason, especially given the time taken, why the standards cannot be prepared for all those bodies covered by the old Welsh Language Act as well as considering new areas such as telecommunications."There is no reason, especially given the time taken, why the standards cannot be prepared for all those bodies covered by the old Welsh Language Act as well as considering new areas such as telecommunications.
Responding to the criticism, the Welsh government said: "We are committed to promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language, and to work towards ensuring that the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language.Responding to the criticism, the Welsh government said: "We are committed to promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language, and to work towards ensuring that the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language.
"We also want to ensure that more people have the opportunity to use Welsh in their day-to-day lives.""We also want to ensure that more people have the opportunity to use Welsh in their day-to-day lives."
'Clarity'
The spokesperson said the consultation document was focusing on local councils, national parks and the Welsh government because "they are organisations that have a wide ranging influence within the communities they serve".
"Placing Welsh language duties on these organisations will have a big impact as far as the language is concerned.
"Further sets of standards will follow as soon as possible."
Welsh language commissioner Meri Huws said the minister's timetable provided clarity as to when standards were expected to come into force.Welsh language commissioner Meri Huws said the minister's timetable provided clarity as to when standards were expected to come into force.