The Welsh Language Commissioner () is a

Welsh Government The Welsh Government ( cy, Llywodraeth Cymru) is the Welsh devolution, devolved government of Wales. The government consists of ministers and Minister (government), deputy ministers, and also of a Counsel General for Wales, counsel general. Minist ...

officer, overseeing an independent advisory body of the same name. The position was created following the passing of the ''Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011'', effective on 1 April 2012, with the aim of promoting and facilitating the use of the

Welsh language Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic language family, Celtic language of the Brittonic languages, Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales, by some in England, and in Y Wladfa (the Welsh colony in Chubut P ...

. This entails 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. According to the Commissioner's

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, there are two principles that underpin the work of the Commissioner, namely: * Welsh should not be treated less favourably than the

English language English is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, with its earliest forms spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England. It is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to the is ...

in Wales * People should be able to live their lives in Wales through the medium of Welsh if they so wish. The Commissioner's work is politically independent, and the position of a commissioner lasts seven years.

Commissioners

Meri Huws Meri Huws (born September 1957) is a Welsh academic and public official and formerly the Welsh Language Commissioner. Born in Carmarthenshire, she was educated at Ysgol Bro Gwaun, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, where she studied law and politics ...

(2012–2019) *

Aled Roberts Aled Roberts (17 May 1962 – 13 February 2022) was a Welsh Liberal Democrat politician from Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham. Roberts was a Member of the Welsh Assembly (AM) for the North Wales Region from 2011 to 2016. Before his election to t ...

(2019–2022){{cite news , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-60376863 , title=Welsh Language Commissioner Aled Roberts dies , publisher=BBC News , date=2022-02-14 , accessdate=2022-07-20

Deputy commissioner

* Gwenith Price (acting)

The Commissioner's role

The Commissioner may do anything he or she considers appropriate to: * Promote the use of Welsh * Facilitate the use of Welsh * Work towards ensuring that Welsh is treated no less favourably than English. This includes promoting opportunities to use Welsh and encourage best practice in the use of Welsh by people dealing with other persons, or providing services to other persons. Areas of his or her work also include legal issues, preparing and publishing reports, research, educational activities and written recommendations to Ministers of the

Government of Wales , image = , caption = , date_established = , country = Wales , address = , leader_title = First Minister () , appointed = First Minister approved by the Senedd, ceremonially appointed ...

. The Commissioner can also give advice to people.

References

External links

Official website of the Welsh Language CommissionerWelsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011
as enacted Welsh language Politics of Wales 2012 establishments in Wales Language policy in the United Kingdom Ombudsman posts Language Commissioner

Commissioners

Deputy commissioner

The Commissioner's role

See also

References

External links