Welsh Language

Welsh Language Standards

The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 replaced the Welsh Language Act 1993 and as part of the new legislation in Wales the Welsh Language has equal legal status with English and must not be treated less favourably. Public bodies no longer need to develop and implement Welsh Language Schemes but instead now must comply with a set of national Welsh Language Standards.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council received its final Compliance Notice from the Welsh Language Commissioner on 30th September 2015. This outlined the Council’s duty to meet 171 of the statutory Welsh Language Standards established by the Welsh Government under the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011. The implementation date for most of the Standards is the 30th March 2016 with the remainder by 30th September 2016 and 30th September 2017.

In order to ensure that we are compliant with the Standards, we will be operating a Continual Improvement Plan, which will involve internal and external monitoring of our performance to the Standards. Where we perceive there to be risk of non-compliance, we will prepare and deliver appropriate skills training and awareness raising exercises. These activities will be recorded in our annual report.

Annual Reporting

The Council is required to report annually on its progress in complying with the Welsh Language Standards under the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 by the 30th June of each year.

The Council’s Welsh Language Annual Monitoring Report can be accessed at the bottom of this page under further information.

Welsh Language Promotional Strategy

Standard 145 of the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 requires the Council to produce a five year Welsh Language Promotional Strategy showing how we will grow or maintain the number of Welsh speakers in the area.

The Strategy was approved by Full Council on 5th January 2022 and can be accessed at the bottom of this page under further information.