Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011

The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (“the Measure”) introduced a legal framework that places statutory duties in relation to using the Welsh language in the provision of public services.

The Measure includes provision that gives official status to the Welsh language and establishes the Welsh Language Commissioner.

The Commissioner’s principal aim is to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language and, amongst other things, to work towards ensuring that the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language. The Commissioner also has the power to investigate alleged interferences with individuals’ freedom to use Welsh in certain circumstances. The Welsh Ministers appoint an Advisory Panel that supports the Commissioner in fulfilling certain functions.

The Measure makes provision for the development of standards of conduct relating to use of the Welsh language, to replace the system of Welsh language schemes provided for by the Welsh Language Act 1993 (“the 1993 Act”). Only bodies named or who fall within a category listed in the Measure can be required to comply with standards. The Welsh Ministers prepare regulations to determine which standards are specifically applicable to bodies or to a category of bodies. The Welsh Language Commissioner issues a compliance notice to individual bodies to set out which of the standards within regulations the bodies must comply with. The compliance notice also sets out by when the body must comply.

Where a body has a Welsh Language Scheme in place under the 1993 Act, it must continue to comply with that scheme until the date set out in the Commissioner’s compliance notice for when it must start complying with the standards.

The Commissioner has powers of investigation and enforcement of breach of standards. Anybody under a duty to comply with the standards and any individual affected by a failure to comply with the standards has a right to appeal certain of the Commissioner’s decisions. The bodies on whom the standards have been imposed also have the right to challenge the imposition of those duties. The Commissioner’s decisions may be challenged ultimately at the Welsh Language Tribunal created under the Measure.

The Measure also makes provision for the establishment of a Welsh Language Partnership Council to give advice and make representations to the Welsh Ministers about their Welsh language strategy.

The Measure was made under Part 3 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (“GoWA 2006”). This meant that it had to relate to the specific matters (and could not relate to any of the exceptions) set out in Schedule 5 to that Act. Senedd Cymru now makes Acts under Part 4 of GoWA 2006, and the limitations on Senedd Cymru's competence are now those set out in Schedule 7A and 7B. However, both the Measure and any orders or regulations (including regulations specifying the standards) made under the Measure must comply with the limitations in Schedule 5 because the Measure was made under Part 3 of GoWA 2006.

Detailed commentary on the various provisions of the Measure is available in the Explanatory Notes to the Measure on legislation.gov.uk

Read the full Act:

• Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 on legislation.gov.uk

Part 1 and section 156 of the Measure came into force on 9 February 2011, the day the Measure received Royal Approval. 

The remaining provisions of the Measure come into force in accordance with provision made by the Welsh Ministers by order.

See section 156 of the Measure on legislation.gov.uk

The following Orders have been made:

• The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (Commencement No. 10) Order 2015 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (Commencement No. 9) Order 2015 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (Commencement No. 8) Order 2015 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (Commencement No.7) Order 2013 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (Commencement No.6) Order 2012 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (Commencement No.5) Order 2012 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (Commencement No.4) Order 2012 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (Commencement No.3) Order 2012 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (Commencement No.2) Order 2012 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (Commencement No.1) Order 2011 on legislation.gov.uk

The Measure was introduced on 4 March 2010 by Alun Ffred Jones AM, Minister for Heritage at the time. The Measure was passed by Senedd Cymru (known then as the National Assembly for Wales) on 7 December 2010.

More information about the Measure and its passage through the Senedd on senedd.wales.

Explanatory Memorandum which was prepared by the Welsh Government (as amended following Stage 2 proceedings) on senedd.wales.

The Measure received Royal Approval on 9 February 2011.