The Status of the Welsh Language In the Senedd's Work

Part of 4. Questions to the Senedd Commission – in the Senedd at 4:08 pm on 23 September 2020.

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Photo of Siân Gwenllian Siân Gwenllian Plaid Cymru 4:08, 23 September 2020

(Translated)

Thank you very much. Yesterday, I had an opportunity to discuss this significant court judgment with the Counsel General. There are two significant aspects with regard to this judgment and the Welsh language, and one—the one that we were discussing yesterday—is the right to a Welsh education within a reasonable distance of the home.

Now, I'm raising another matter that was part of that judgment with you today, namely that it's the first time for the Welsh language text of legislation to play a significant part in a legal case, and that's relevant to us. The council in Rhondda Cynon Taf disregarded the Welsh version of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 and was incorrect to do so, according to the justice. There was also a question with regard to a difference in meaning between the Welsh and English versions of the legislation.

So, do you agree that there are important questions arising from this judgment that require due regard to be paid to them by the Government, Commission and external experts such as the Welsh Language Commissioner, and that there are questions such as ensuring the quality of our bilingual legislative processes, the need to upgrade the status of the Welsh language, and the role of the Senedd in driving forward parity of esteem between the Welsh language and the English language, for the sake of the Welsh language? So, I'd ask you for a commitment today to a careful analysis about the significance of this judgment and any changes that should be made as a result of it.