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Census 2011: Welsh speaking areas declining Census 2011: Welsh speaking areas declining
(about 2 hours later)
There has been a fall in the number of places where over half the population can speak Welsh, the latest figures from the 2011 census show.There has been a fall in the number of places where over half the population can speak Welsh, the latest figures from the 2011 census show.
There were 157 council wards with over 50% of Welsh speakers in 2011, compared to 192 in 2001. There are 157 council wards with over 50% of residents who are Welsh speakers in 2011, compared to 192 in 2001.
Census figures released in December showed an overall drop of 2% in the number of people who speak Welsh to 19% of the population in Wales. The Welsh Language Society accused the Welsh government of failing to halt the decline of Welsh speaking communities.
Ward-by-ward breakdowns have now been revealed. A Welsh government spokesperson admitted it needed to do more to "promote and facilitate" the language.
When the first census figures on the use of the Welsh language were released last month they suggested Welsh was now a minority language in two heartlands, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. Census figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in December showed an overall drop of 2% in the number of people who speak Welsh to 19% of the population in Wales.
The href="http://wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/headlines/population2013/2011-census-welsh-language-data-small-areas/?lang=en" title="Click through to website" >latest figures released on Wednesday back this up, showing that there were no council wards in the two counties in 2011 where more than 70% of the population could speak Welsh - a key target for the Welsh government. It also suggested Welsh was now a minority language in two heartlands, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.
The latest figures released on Wednesday - which give ward-by-ward breakdowns of Wales' 881 electoral divisions - back this up.
They show that that there were no council wards in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion in 2011 where more than 70% of the population could speak Welsh - a key target for the Welsh government.
Overall there were fewer places where at least 70% of people speak Welsh, down from 59 in 2001 - or 7% - to 49 in 2011, which is 6%.Overall there were fewer places where at least 70% of people speak Welsh, down from 59 in 2001 - or 7% - to 49 in 2011, which is 6%.
Apart from one ward in Conwy, all the places where 70% of people speak Welsh were in Gwynedd or on Anglesey.Apart from one ward in Conwy, all the places where 70% of people speak Welsh were in Gwynedd or on Anglesey.
'Great concern''Great concern'
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society) said that in the Welsh government's language strategy, there was a target by 2011 to halt the decline in the number of communities where Welsh is spoken by over 70% of the population.Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society) said that in the Welsh government's language strategy, there was a target by 2011 to halt the decline in the number of communities where Welsh is spoken by over 70% of the population.
Chair Robin Farrar said the figures showed ministers had "failed".Chair Robin Farrar said the figures showed ministers had "failed".
"These results are obviously a matter of great concern, especially the situation in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion where no communities with over 70% Welsh speakers remain," he said."These results are obviously a matter of great concern, especially the situation in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion where no communities with over 70% Welsh speakers remain," he said.
"Communities of that type are absolutely essential for the language - the international evidence is completely clear."Communities of that type are absolutely essential for the language - the international evidence is completely clear.
"The language and its communities face a crisis, and the government needs new policies to ensure that the language and its communities thrives.""The language and its communities face a crisis, and the government needs new policies to ensure that the language and its communities thrives."
The census data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that Llanrug in Gwynedd was the electoral division with the highest proportion of Welsh speakers - 88% - in 2011. After the figures were published, Welsh Language Commissioner Meri Huws said her office would establish a special unit to recommend policies on protecting the language.
The Churchstoke ward in Powys where 4.3% of people speak Welsh, has the lowest proportion. It's on the border with England, near Montgomery. The new observatory will examine the effects of economic and housing policies on Welsh-speaking communities.
Just two areas, Monmouthshire and Cardiff, have seen a percentage increase in Welsh speakers over the last decade. Laws to ensure bilingual services, including in some parts of the private sector, were passed by the last assembly.
There were 881 wards, or electoral divisions, at the time of both the 2011 and 2001 censuses. The Welsh government and opposition politicians are now looking at practical measures to encourage people to speak Welsh in their everyday lives.
'Future work'
Ms Huws said: "The policy options we will put forward will be strategic and radical, and will be based upon hard evidence and an open civic discussion.
"We will look at examples from abroad and gather the opinions of experts in various specialised fields."
The Welsh government said it recognised the need to do more to "promote and facilitate" the use of the Welsh language.The Welsh government said it recognised the need to do more to "promote and facilitate" the use of the Welsh language.
"Our Welsh Language Strategy identifies the key areas that we need to focus on, to help ensure the language's sustainability," a spokesperson said."Our Welsh Language Strategy identifies the key areas that we need to focus on, to help ensure the language's sustainability," a spokesperson said.
"The census figures will be used to inform current and future work on the Welsh language and we look forward to working with those who have an interest in the language, to secure its future.""The census figures will be used to inform current and future work on the Welsh language and we look forward to working with those who have an interest in the language, to secure its future."