06 February 2009
By Paul Dicken
All public service providers in Wales could be required to treat the Welsh and English languages equally under plans to draw down powers over the Welsh language from Westminster.
On February 2, the Welsh Assembly Government published a Legislative Competence Order, the mechanism for transferring powers to the National Assembly.
This would allow legislation to be passed creating a language commissioner and a legal duty on organisations providing public services to promote or facilitate 'the use of the Welsh language; and the treatment of the Welsh and English languages on the basis of equality'.
Transferring responsibility for legislating on the Welsh language is a key part of the Plaid-Cymru/Labour agreement for government, known as One Wales. Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones said: 'Legislation is an important tool in promoting and facilitating the growth of the language.'
The LCO will be considered by a National Assembly committee and the Welsh affairs select committee and will be put to a vote in the Assembly and Parliament.
Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy said there was now an opportunity for 'transparent public debate on the implications' of the order.
Menna Macreth, chair of the Welsh language society Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, said she welcomed the LCO but that it would limit access to the language through an 'absence of comprehensive statutory rights'.
PFfeb2009
