Welsh Language Commissioner Takes Action – Welsh Must Have Equal Status To English in the Private Sector

Celtic language activists should not underestimate what has just happened. At the heart of the landmark  “Welsh Language (Wales) Measure – 2011” is the provision that companies doing business in Wales must provide the same services in Welsh as they do in English.  If this part of the legislation was to be rigorously enforced it would have very very significant implications for the long term health of the Celtic tongue of Wales as it would force companies doing business in Wales to ensure availability of Welsh speaking staff to provide service to customers choosing to receive services in Welsh.  This in turn would enhance the economic benefit of Welsh proficiency as more jobs would require Welsh language skills, thus advantage to Welsh speakers.  In the final analysis it is economic relevance that is one, if not the primary, underpinning of a vibrant healthy language and the Welsh Language Commissioner, Meri Huws, has taken another step in this direction.

The web site “Daily Post” has an article headlined “Welsh Language Commissioner Investigating ‘Ban’ at Swinton Insurance - It is the First Time Powers have Been Used Since Coming Into Force, After Claims Staff Cannot Speak Welsh To Customers”.  The article is reporting that action has been taken by Commissioner Huws against Swinton Insurance in response to complaints that the company are not providing full customer service in Welsh at its branch operations in Wales.

The target of the inquiry by the Language Commissioner is the British Swinton Group, Ltd., an Insurance Broker owned by the French Insurer “Covea". Swinton have approximately 350 branches across the UK and employ around 4,500 staff.  Transceltic contacted Swinton spokesman Mr. Tom Carlin who provided us with the following statement confirming the action by the Language Commissioner: “Swinton Insurance confirms it is involved in a statutory consultation with the Welsh Language Commissioner. As the consultation with the Commissioner is underway, Swinton will make no further comment until the end of the process.” In addition to the official statement, Carlin told Transceltic the following: “It’s not part of the official statement but let me clarify that it is not correct to say that Swinton staff are banned from speaking Welsh to customers as has been reported...It is just that the policy statement is read out in English.”

The article goes on to quote Robin Farrar, Chair of The Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr laith Gymraeg), describing the action that has been taken by Language Commissioner Meri Huws: “We‘re very glad that the Language Commissioner has started an inquiry. It seems there are awful problems in the insurance industry, and private sector more generally, in terms of stopping staff from speaking Welsh with customers. I hope she makes it completely clear that the Welsh language now has official status, and companies are breaking the law if they ban individuals from using it with one another.”

As reported by Transceltic in the 13 August, 2013 Blog Welsh Language Commissioner Meri Huws Defends the Rights of Welsh Speakers”, the Language Commissioner has taken an active role in pushing for compliance with the 2011 Legislation. The following is an excerpt from the August Blog:  “Proving true to the promises she made to the Welsh nation on assuming her post, Welsh Language Commissioner Meri Huws has issued the First Annual Report of the Language Commissioner. The report details 488 complaints received by her office against Public Bodies and Private Companies who are alleged to have failed to comply with Welsh Language statutes.  On assuming the post of Commissioner, Dr. Huws stated: "I will be a voice for the Welsh Language, acting on behalf of Welsh speakers. That is my promise.  As I prepare to undertake this work, my vision is of Wales where the Welsh language is central to public life, where Welsh speakers have the confidence to use Welsh and trust in the law to right any injustice they may suffer for using the Welsh language." 

The role of the Welsh Language Commissioner is defined on the Commissioner's web page as follows: "The principal aim of the Welsh Language Commissioner, an independent body established by the Welsh Language measure of 2011, is to promote and facilitate use of the Welsh language.  This will entail raising awareness of the official status of the Welsh language in Wales and by imposing standards on organisations. This in turn will lead to the establishment of rights for Welsh speakers."

The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 is legislation approved by the National Assembly For Wales establishes the legal status of the Welsh language.  The Welsh Government web page offers the following summary as it applies to the impact of the Language Acct on the conduct of business in Wales:  “  legal effect is given to the official status of the Welsh language by the enactments about: duties on bodies to use the Welsh language; the treatment of the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language; the validity of the use of the Welsh language; the promotion and facilitation of the use of the Welsh language; the freedom of persons wishing to use the Welsh language to do so with one another; the creation of the Welsh Language Commissioner and other matters relating to the Welsh language.”

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/mwa/2011/1/contents

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