CALL FOR A MINISTER FOR THE WELSH LANGUAGE

Reply

While congratulating Eluned Morgan on her new health responsibilities, Dyfodol i’r Iaith calls on the First Minister to establish a specific Welsh Language Minister.

Heini Gruffudd, Chair of Dyfodol i’r Iaith, said, “We have for many years seen the Welsh language as an area of responsibility of a Minister who is under great pressure from other directions.

“Carwyn Jones as First Minister had, in fairness,  shouldered the burden of the Welsh language, but it was impossible for him to give priority to the language.  Then came Brexit and now Covid-19 and related health issues.  It is not possible for all matters associated with the Welsh language to have a fair hearing in such a situation.

“We were promised by the Government that the Welsh language department would become an influential body within the Government.  There has been silence since then.

“Dyfodol i’r Iaith has consistently called for a National Authority to co-ordinate language planning in Wales across all areas of government responsibilities.  We want the Language Authority to be independent of the whims of government.  The marginal attention given to Welsh in the Government’s arrangements proves the need for an arm’s length Linguistic Planning Authority.  It is essential that it can liais with a  Minister who will be able to give all his or her attention to the Welsh language.

“Covid-19 has caused a crisis for Welsh-speaking communities, and for the cultural life of the Welsh language.  We need a National Language Authority that will have  resources and power to co-ordinate and stimulate the regeneration of the language. And we need a Welsh Language Minister who will be able to give this his or her whole attention.”

DYFODOL CALLS FOR A REVIEW OF THE GWYNEDD AND MÔN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Reply

Dyfodol i’r Iaith is calling upon the local authorities of Gwynedd and Môn to review the target noted in their current Local Development Plan to build 7,184 new homes up to 2026.

The Development Plan was drawn up within the context of the future development of Wylfa atomic power station. Following the announcement that this plan will not be going ahead, Dyfodol believes that it is essential to review these building targets which are by now superfluous to local need.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol i’r Iaith’r Chair said:

“From the start, we were convinced that the Local Development Plan included building targets that were totally unsuitable for the area, and by now, there can surely be no justification in following a framework that is not only unsustainable, but which also threatens the Welsh language as a social medium.

We therefore call for an urgent review of the Local Development Plan, with priority being given to local needs – both economically and linguistically. Emphasis should be placed upon sustainable energy and supporting local businesses.”

PLANNING THE REGENERATION OF THE WELSH LANGUAGE CONSULTATION DISCUSSION POINT 9: STRUCTURES

Reply

The latest discussion point of our consultation on Planning the Regeneration of the Welsh Language is what kind of administrative STRUCTURES are needed to lead and co-ordinate the regeneration of the Welsh language.

As before, we would be very grateful to receive your comments, suggestions and any practical experience you may have. You are welcome to use the questions and template below or send your comments in any other format that suits you.

Below is a summary of Dyfodol’s demands regarding the kind of structures that are necessary to implement our vision. If you would like to read the full text of Planning the Regeneration of the Welsh Language, a copy is available on our website, dyfodol.net

Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to our discussion. We look forward to hearing from you – do get in touch:

[email protected]

or telephone 01248 811798

 

DISCUSSION POINT 9: STRUCTURES

 Dyfodol believes that:

In setting about the task, it is essential that the organizational structure is fit for purpose. Two national bodies are currently responsible for leading and implementing Welsh language policy

1 The Welsh Language Commissioner is mainly responsible for ensuring that the rights of Welsh speakers are upheld through the Standards system. The legislation also states that s/he is also responsible for promoting the language but hitherto s/he has concentrated on regulation.

2 The Welsh Language sub-department has responsibility for all that falls outside the Commissioner’s remit. The sub-department is located deep inside the Welsh Government civil service, accountable to the head of the Education Department, who is accountable to the Director General of the Education and Public Services Group, who is accountable in turn to the Permanent Secretary. Politically, the Welsh Language Sub-department is accountable to the Welsh Language Minister, currently Eluned Morgan.

In the past, there has been some overlap between the responsibilities of these two bodies, but it is to be hoped that the Memorandum of Understanding between the Commissioner and the Government will clear up any confusion.

Dyfodol i’r iaith believes that this structure needs to be revised.

We call for the establishment of a Language Authority or Agency. Our preference would be an arms’-length body to the Welsh Government – a quango, to use old-fashioned terminology. Our second choice would be that this body be part of the Welsh Government civil service. However, it should have to be a high-status entity that could powerfully influence all Government departments and other relevant bodies

  • be recognizable to the public and transparent
  • be directly accountable to the Permanent Secretary, the head of the civil service and, of course, the relevant minister.

 Another option would be to establish a Welsh Language Directorate on a par with the other four Directorates within the civil service.

This Agency would need sufficient capacity, as well as expertise in the fields mentioned above as well as in Sociology of Language and Language Planning. A degree of continuity and stability in its leadership would be essential. (In fairness we should note that the Minister announced at the beginning of August 2019 that the Welsh Language Sub-department is to be strengthened through the appointment of a full-time head and a number of part-time staff with language planning expertise. We see this as a step, but only a step, in the right direction.)

If all of the measures outlined above are put in place, added to unambiguous political will and leadership, together with financial resources adequate to the task, we will be, as the saying goes, in business. 

Never before has there been such an undertaking in Wales. As the Basque experience demonstrates, it can work. It is a progressive, exciting project. It is essential to the wider national enterprise.

DO YOU AGREE WITH US THAT WE NEED POWERFUL NEW STRUCTRES TO LEAD THE WORK OF REGENERATING THE WELSH LANGUAGE? HAVE YOU ANY COMMENTS ON HOW TO ENSURE THE BEST ARRANGEMENTS TO UNDERTAKE THIS CHALLENGING WORK?