The Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
It was announced last May that the regulations making the first set of Welsh language standards and making standards specifically applicable to persons, will be made by the end of 2014.
A timetable was published setting out the steps that needed to be taken to make the regulations. I am pleased to announce that we are still on track to honour this commitment and the regulations are still on schedule to be made by the end of 2014.
Following positive discussions with the Welsh Language Commissioner, and as stated in the Welsh Language Measure (Wales) 2011, the Commissioner will carry out a standards investigation in relation to Local Authorities, National Parks and the Welsh Ministers early in 2014. As part of the investigation process, the Commissioner will contact these organisations directly to discuss the approach in more detail.
Once the investigation has been completed, the Welsh Ministers receive an independent report from the Commissioner.
Officials have also been consulted by the Commissioner on the rolling programme to plan subsequent standards investigations. Details of that programme will be issued by the Welsh Language Commissioner shortly.
The timetable below outlines the key steps:
- Welsh Ministers to present draft standards to the Commissioner - December 2013
- Commissioner to carry out a standards investigation in relation to Local Authorities, National Parks and the Welsh Ministers - January 2014
- Commissioner to present a report to the Welsh Ministers summarising the findings of the investigation – May 2014
- Draft Regulations and associated documentation produced – September 2014
- Debate and vote on approval of Regulations in National Assembly Plenary Session – October/November 2014
- It is currently anticipated that the Regulations will come into force in November 2014.