WIREDGOV

A further 17 organisations were today added to the list of bodies that the Welsh Language Board can call upon to prepare a Welsh Language Scheme. This is the main subordinate legislation for the Welsh Language which the Assembly has the power to make and is the second such legislation since devolution.

Jenny Randerson said: "I am delighted to be bringing you a further piece of subordinate legislation within 11 months of the last. I have fulfilled my undertaking of 12 July 2001, to bring forward further legislation as quickly as reasonably practicable. In doing so I am making practical use of the powers of the Assembly to extend the coverage of public bodies for the purposes of the Welsh Language Act.

"It is particularly appropriate to be passing this legislation at a time when the committee is coming to the end of its review of the Welsh Language.

"These schemes will improve the accessibility of public services to people wishing to communicate with public bodies through the medium of Welsh."

Jenny Randerson said the Welsh Language Board had approved 192 public sector Welsh Language Schemes and that some of the recently approved schemes belong to bodies named in subordinate legislation last year.

"Two of the main lottery distributors are amongst these as are the Local Probation Boards, and the Rent Assessment Panel for Wales," said the Minister. "It is very heartening to see the inroads being made into the comprehensive cover of the public administration sector. Those with approved schemes include all kinds of bodies – from councils and health bodies, colleges and courts, to government departments and agencies.

"A significant number of these bodies (such as the Child Support Agency) are based outside Wales, and are funded by Whitehall departments rather than the Assembly. This represents a considerable achievement by the Board and recognises the good will that now exists towards the Welsh Language and the needs of the population for whom it is the mother tongue."

The Minister said that the implementation of schemes enables the Welsh speaking public in Wales to access a service in the language of their choice. "This is the principle which guides the development of schemes, and bodies are asked to aspire to this principle, so far as is both appropriate in the circumstances and reasonably practicable," she said.

The list of bodies included in the proposed legislation has been drawn up following consultation within the Assembly, with other Government Departments, with the Welsh Language Board and the bodies themselves.

Jenny Randerson added: "Some of the bodies on the list already provide bilingual services. This is particularly true of those funded by the Assembly. Some of the bodies are UK bodies, but they nonetheless provide services on behalf of the public in Wales.

"I am particularly pleased that it has been possible to include bodies within the Social Care Field - such as the Children's Commissioner and the Care Council for Wales. The list also includes a number of regulatory bodies, not only in the health sector but also in the field of finance."

Jenny Randerson added that she would bring the next piece of Assembly Legislation for the Welsh Language to Members’ attention as soon as reasonably practicable.

Notes

The new organisations this legislation applies to is as follows:  Care Council for Wales

 Children's Commissioner for Wales

 Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

 Construction Industry Training Board

 Consumer Council for Postal Services (Post-watch Wales)

 Engineering Construction Industry Training Board

 Financial Services Authority

 Gas and Electricity Consumer Council (Energywatch)

 General Dental Council

 General Medical Council

 Health Professions Council

 Nursing and Midwifery Council

 Rail Passenger Committee - Wales

 Rail Passengers Council

 Strategic Rail Authority

 The Sector Skills Development Agency

 Valuation and Community Charge Tribunals in Wales

(28 May, 2002)