WRITTEN STATEMENT
BY
THE WELSH GOVERNMENT
TITLE
Consultation on new Welsh Language Strategy
DATE
1 August 2016
BY
Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language
Section 78(1) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (GOWA 2006) places a duty on
Welsh Ministers to adopt a strategy on how they propose to promote and facilitate
the use of the Welsh language. As the current Welsh Language strategy
A living language: A language for living comes to an end (31 March 2017), Welsh
Ministers are required to consult on a new strategy for the Welsh language.
Today, I am publishing a consultation on a new strategy for the Welsh language in order to
share our long-term vision with the public and provide the citizens of Wales the opportunity
to contribute to the process of shaping the new strategy. The new draft strategy therefore
sets out our long-term vision which spans over a period between 2017 and 2060.
Our ambition as a Government is to reach a million Welsh speakers by 2050. It is
appropriate therefore that our new strategy looks to the future and acknowledges the fact
that language planning is a long-term matter that bridges generations. We have identified
six strategic areas of development for achieving the vision:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Language planning and policy
Normalisation
Education
People
Support
Rights
The document sets out proposals that convey the Government’s commitment to influence
decisions made by people at key points in their lives. The intention is to ensure that the
Welsh language is a relevant, attractive part of life from cradle to grave.
The consultation is open between 1 August and 31 October 2016 and available on the
Welsh Government website: http://gov.wales/consultations/welshlanguage/welsh-languagestrategy-consultation/?lang=en.
1