Welsh Lib Dems back strong language measures (Eleanor Burnham )

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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

Welsh Lib Dems back strong language measures

March 11, 2006 12:00 PM

At their spring conference in Wrexham today, the Welsh Liberal Democrats voted for the Assembly's new powers to be used for a new, extended Welsh Language Act.

The party backed a motion from the Gwynedd Liberal Democrats. It calls on:

• Welsh Lib Dems to propose an Assembly Measure introducing an extended Welsh Language Act, by way of an Order in Council conferring the powers of the Welsh Language Act 1993.

• The extended Act to make it easier for all people in Wales to use the language in everyday life by increasing the level of services available in Welsh.

• The party to examine a new rights-based approach to the legislative situation of Welsh, including the proposal that there should be a Commissioner for the Welsh Language.

Eleanor Burnham AM, the party's language spokesperson, who proposed the motion, said:

"This motion reflects the Welsh Liberal Democrats' seriousness about promoting and increasing the use of Welsh in everyday life.

"We are committed to extending language act obligations to those public services no longer within the public sector - that should be definite first step to increase the level of services available in Welsh.

"There must then follow a full debate, engaging sectors, communities and organisations across Wales about how to take language rights forward. The rights based agenda set out by language board is a new and interesting course that the Welsh Lib Dems will take forward. As a liberal, I think it's correct that we see the development and promotion of opportunities to use Welsh within the broad area of civil rights.

"The merger of the language board with the Assembly Government will leave language promotion and rights in a state of flux. We will look at the idea that there should be a strong Commissioner for the Welsh Language. A commissioner that promotes and defines the right to use the language in dealing with public bodies, and the right to Welsh-medium education and to learn the language."

Diwedd/Ends.