Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011
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| Measure of the National Assembly for Wales | |
 | |
| Long title | A Measure of the National Assembly for Wales to make provision about the official status of the Welsh language in Wales; to provide for a Welsh Language Partnership Council; to establish the Office of Welsh Language Commissioner; to provide for an Advisory Panel to the Welsh Language Commissioner; to make provision about promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language and treating the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language; to make provision about standards relating to the Welsh language (including duties to comply with those standards, and rights arising from the enforceability of those duties); to make provision about investigation of interference with the freedom to use the Welsh language; to establish a Welsh Language Tribunal; to abolish the Welsh Language Board and Welsh language schemes; and for connected purposes. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2011 nawm 1 |
| Territorial extent | Wales |
| Dates | |
| Royal approval | 9 February 2011 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through the Assembly | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1) (Welsh: Mesur y Gymraeg (Cymru) 2011) is a measure of the National Assembly for Wales that established several provisions with regard to Welsh as an official language of Wales. The measure notably established the Welsh Language Commissioner role.
Welsh is an official language of Wales, and is treated no less favourably than the English language, according to the Welsh Government's interpretation of the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011.[1][2]
The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 recognises that Welsh and English are official languages and established a legal framework for a statutory duty on public bodies in Wales to comply with Welsh standards. The legislation allows people to live through the medium of Welsh if they so wish. The legislation states “the Welsh language must not be treated less favourably than the English language”.[3]
The 2011 measure also created the Welsh Language Commissioner post, which replaced the Welsh Language Board. The Commissioner's role is to promote and facilitate the use of Welsh and ensure that it is treated no less favourably than English. The Commissioner can also investigate alleged interferences with an individual's freedom to use Welsh in certain circumstances and is supported by an advisory panel.[2]
The measure also makes provisions for Welsh standards of conduct, gradually replacing the Welsh Language Act 1993 schemes. Only bodies listed or falling within a named category must comply with standards and the Commissioner is able to investigate for breach of standards. The Commissioner's decisions can be challenged by the Welsh Language Tribunal created under the Measure.[2]
The Measure also makes provisions for a Welsh Language Partnership Council which can give advice to Welsh Ministers about their Welsh language strategy.[2]
