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Welsh language legal bid starts Welsh language legal bid starts
(about 4 hours later)
The Welsh Assembly Government's bid for more powers to make laws to promote the Welsh language has been published. A bid by the Welsh Assembly Government for more powers to make laws to promote the Welsh language has been published.
The legislative competence order (LCO) includes the right to require some private companies to use the language, including energy and telecoms firms.The legislative competence order (LCO) includes the right to require some private companies to use the language, including energy and telecoms firms.
But some MPs are expected to resist the idea that using Welsh could become a legal requirement for private firms. But some MPs may resist the idea that using Welsh could become a legal requirement for private firms, and the bid was criticised by business leaders.
This LCO is one of the key elements of the One Wales agreement between the coalition parties - Plaid and Labour. This LCO is a key part of the Labour-Plaid Cymru coalition agreement.
Assembly government Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones said the transfer of powers was needed "so that we are better able to secure our goal of creating a truly bilingual Wales". Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones said the transfer of powers was needed "so that we are better able to secure our goal of creating a truly bilingual Wales".
But Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy stressed "the detail of this draft legislative competence order is not set in stone". South Wales Chamber of Commerce managing director David Russ warned that "requiring private companies to embrace the Welsh language wholeheartedly would be particularly thoughtless during these tough times". The last thing that businesses in Wales need at the moment is unwanted regulation saddling them with additional costs David Russ, South Wales Chamber of Commerce
However, Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy stressed "the detail of this draft legislative competence order is not set in stone".
The LCO is the first stage in passing a Welsh law (measure) and seeks to give the assembly government more powers over the Welsh language.The LCO is the first stage in passing a Welsh law (measure) and seeks to give the assembly government more powers over the Welsh language.
PRIVATE COMPANIES WHICH COULD BE AFFECTED Gas, water, or electricity servicesSewerage servicesPostal service and post officesTelecom servicesEducation, training, or career guidanceRailway servicesServices to develop or award education or vocations qualifications Betsan Powys's blogLanguage laws take the long road
If the LCO is approved the assembly government will introduce a measure (Welsh law) on the matter.If the LCO is approved the assembly government will introduce a measure (Welsh law) on the matter.
Before it is approved it has to be scrutinised by both the Welsh assembly and Westminster.Before it is approved it has to be scrutinised by both the Welsh assembly and Westminster.
Royal approval for the LCO is then needed.
The process of drawing it up has taken a year longer than planned.The process of drawing it up has taken a year longer than planned.
The LCO would allow the assembly government to potentially bring a wide range of organisations under the provisions of the Welsh Language Act 1993. The LCO would allow the assembly government potentially to bring a wide range of organisations under the provisions of the Welsh Language Act 1993. PRIVATE COMPANIES WHICH COULD BE AFFECTED Gas, water, or electricity servicesSewerage servicesPostal service and post officesTelecom servicesEducation, training, or career guidanceRailway servicesServices to develop or award education or vocations qualifications class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/betsanpowys/">Betsan Powys's blog class="" href="/1/hi/wales/7856862.stm">Language laws take the long road
The private companies which could be compelled to treat Welsh and English equally include gas, water and electricity services, telecommunication services - including mobile phone companies - and railway operators.The private companies which could be compelled to treat Welsh and English equally include gas, water and electricity services, telecommunication services - including mobile phone companies - and railway operators.
BT has already called for clarification, saying it would prefer the existing voluntary system to continue and could not see the benefits of legislation. BT called for clarification, saying it would prefer the existing voluntary system to continue and could not see the benefits of legislation.
The move could also mean any company which provides services to the public under an agreement with a public authority, like a contract with the assembly government or council, could be compelled to provide those services bilingually.The move could also mean any company which provides services to the public under an agreement with a public authority, like a contract with the assembly government or council, could be compelled to provide those services bilingually.
Alun Ffred Jones, Wales' culture minister, said the assembly was the "appropriate place" to make laws on the language. Mr Jones said the assembly was the "appropriate place" to make laws on the language.
He said: "Westminster passed three laws on the Welsh language during the last century, the last occasion was in 1993.He said: "Westminster passed three laws on the Welsh language during the last century, the last occasion was in 1993.
"With the existence now of the national assembly, it is unlikely to introduce another one."With the existence now of the national assembly, it is unlikely to introduce another one.
"We need to make sure that any legislation is suitable for the 21st Century, and allows the assembly to make decisions that secure the development and sustainability of the Welsh language"."We need to make sure that any legislation is suitable for the 21st Century, and allows the assembly to make decisions that secure the development and sustainability of the Welsh language".
Several Labour MPs have privately expressed scepticism about extending the scope of current language legislation to the private sector - a concern which has been intensified by the current economic climate. But Mr Russ insisted that "the last thing that businesses in Wales need at the moment is unwanted regulation saddling them with additional costs".
Welsh Conservative heritage spokesman Paul Davies said his party would study the plans "in detail" and indicated he shared the fears about their possible implications for business. "Whether or not to use the Welsh language should remain a matter of choice for private companies," he said.
Lingua franca
"Legislation is not the right way to encourage the adoption of Welsh and more effort should be made to quantify the business benefits of using the language.
"Successful businesses evolve to meet the needs of their customers and, if providing services in both Welsh and English proves more beneficial than just using the lingua franca, the take up of Welsh by companies will inevitably increase.
Mr Russ said that while customers' rights to deal with businesses through the medium of Welsh "must be respected", business should have the right to "opt-out of any proposed Welsh language initiatives".
Several Labour MPs have privately expressed scepticism about extending the scope of current language legislation to the private sector.
Welsh Conservative heritage spokesman Paul Davies said his party would study the plans "in detail".
"While we remain committed to supporting the Welsh language - as we set out in our 2007 assembly manifesto - we do not want to see any barriers erected to businesses in Wales which would damage investment and competitiveness, particularly at a time of economic recession," he said."While we remain committed to supporting the Welsh language - as we set out in our 2007 assembly manifesto - we do not want to see any barriers erected to businesses in Wales which would damage investment and competitiveness, particularly at a time of economic recession," he said.
The LCO also contains what appears to amount to a de facto opt out for Whitehall departments.
In order for duties on the Welsh language to be "conferred or imposed" by any future assembly measure, the LCO specifies that a Secretary of State for the relevant department must consent in advance, and even then, no criminal offences (presumably for breaches) can ever be enforced against "ministers of the Crown".
Assembly presiding officer Lord Elis Thomas told the BBC Politics Show the bid for powers on the language was hugely important.Assembly presiding officer Lord Elis Thomas told the BBC Politics Show the bid for powers on the language was hugely important.
Mr Murphy has indicated he expects changes to be made to the LCO before it is finally passed. Mr Murphy promised a "transparent debate on the implications of the proposed order, especially at this time of economic downturn".
"Publication of the details (of the LCO) now allows a transparent debate on the implications of the proposed order, especially at this time of economic downturn," Mr Murphy said.
He said he had been "approached by business leaders" who were "keen to discuss issues relating to the proposed order".He said he had been "approached by business leaders" who were "keen to discuss issues relating to the proposed order".
"The detail of this draft legislative competence order is not set in stone," Mr Murphy added.
But any serious weakening of the order would cause tension between Cardiff Bay and Westminster.But any serious weakening of the order would cause tension between Cardiff Bay and Westminster.
Any changes may also cause problems between the two coalition partners in the Welsh assembly.Any changes may also cause problems between the two coalition partners in the Welsh assembly.
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, a Welsh language pressure group, challenged the assembly government to be more ambitious in its requests for further powers.Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, a Welsh language pressure group, challenged the assembly government to be more ambitious in its requests for further powers.
Chair Menna Machreth said: "Even though there are many things about the LCO to be welcomed, the Welsh Assembly Government has prevented the people of Wales from gaining access to the Welsh language because of the absence of comprehensive statutory rights in the LCO.Chair Menna Machreth said: "Even though there are many things about the LCO to be welcomed, the Welsh Assembly Government has prevented the people of Wales from gaining access to the Welsh language because of the absence of comprehensive statutory rights in the LCO.
"The Welsh Assembly Government has erected large 'no entry' signs preventing access to large areas of the private sector.""The Welsh Assembly Government has erected large 'no entry' signs preventing access to large areas of the private sector."
Ms Machreth promised a "new period of campaigning" on the language, demanding a "measure that is strong, transparent and just".Ms Machreth promised a "new period of campaigning" on the language, demanding a "measure that is strong, transparent and just".