The Commissioner has a strategic plan for the period 2022 to 2025, which outlines our vision and values, our statutory powers and our strategic objectives. We want to hear your views on our draft strategic plan for 2025-2030.
The Commissioner’s principal statutory aim is to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language. In doing so, the Commissioner must work towards increasing the provision of Welsh language services and other opportunities to use the language.
The Commissioner must also have regard to:
- the official status of the Welsh language in Wales
- the duties to use the Welsh language which have been set by the Welsh Language Standards, and the rights which arise from enforcing those duties
- the principle that the Welsh language should be treated no less favourably than the English language in Wales
- the principle that persons in Wales should be able to live their lives through the medium of the Welsh language if they choose to do so.
The Welsh Language Measure
The Commissioner’s powers and responsibilities are set out in the Welsh Language Measure (Wales) 2011. The Welsh Language Measure was passed by the National Assembly for Wales on 7 December 2010, and received royal assent from Her Majesty the Queen on 9 February 2011.
The Measure:
- Declares that the Welsh language has official status in Wales;
- Created the Welsh Language Commissioner post.
It establishes the following:
- Welsh Language Partnership Council
- Advisory Panel for the Welsh Language Commissioner
- Welsh Language Tribunal
It also makes provision for:
- Promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language and treating Welsh no less favourably than English;
- Welsh language standards, including duties to comply with those Standards and rights arising from the enforceability of those Standards;
- Investigating interferences with the freedom to use the Welsh language.