Welsh language challenge - Iaith Pawb Report 2006

2.46.09pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 11th Jul 2006

Today in the annual debate on Iaith Pawb, Eleanor Burnham AM, will challenge the Minister Alun Pugh to engage with the emerging political consensus on the language. Mrs Burnham earlier accused the Minister of acting on his own and challenged him to put aside his differences and act in the best interest of Wales.

Mrs Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on the Welsh Language said,

"Progress in general should not distract us from success in specifics. What I do not see in this report is the clarity of vision and hunger for real achievement that there was when the Welsh Lib Dems launched Iaith Pawb in the partnership government.

"The public debate on the Welsh Language has progressed since the publication of Iaith Pawb and this Government has failed to move with it.

"Today the opposition parties have put aside our differences to do what we believe is best for the language and for Wales; will the Minister now join us?

"In their rush to torch the quangos the Assembly Government are risking burning down the house. The Welsh Language Board does fine work and I see no reason to scrap a body that works and merge it with a Government that doesn't.

"All powers over the Welsh Language must be devolved to this National Assembly. This is where Iaith Pawb comes from, this is where the Language Board answers too and this is the body people look to for leadership and action on language issues.

"If we are to create a bi-lingual nation then it must be on the basis of equality. That is why I believe in greater language rights. Giving people language rights will empower them to drive the growth of the language. It is one thing for the state to show people the benefits of the language; it is another to put them in possession of it."

Diwedd/Ends.