Assembly bilingual review starts

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An independent panel has begun a review of the Welsh assembly's Welsh language services.

The move follows controversy over the assembly's policy on translating the official record of proceedings from English into Welsh.

The panel includes leading figures in the media, business and academic worlds.

They will investigate bilingual services and report back to the body running the assembly.

The panel chair, Arwel Ellis Owen, said bilingualism was central to the assembly's work, but delivering the service had to be within the assembly's budget.

"Bilingualism has to be at the heart of Wales and the National Assembly for Wales," said Mr Owen, who is also chair of the Care Council for Wales.

"But it also has to be balanced against what is possible in terms of delivery within the budget of the National Assembly for Wales.

"As a panel we will be taking evidence and recommending the best way forward for bilingual services for the fourth assembly in 2011."

The review will look at how current bilingual services are provided by the Assembly Commission, and consider possible options for the future.

The other panel members are Susan Balsom, director of a public relations, design and publishing company FBA Group Ltd, Geraint Evans, a retail consultant and managing director of commercial property firm Gorsedd Ltd, and Professor Colin Baker, pro-vice chancellor of Bangor University.

In the summer moves to save money by altering translation services of assembly proceedings met opposition.

The Assembly Commission decided the translation services will continue, but instead of being available within 24 hours