The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 makes Welsh an official language in Wales. This means it must be treated no less favourably than English.

The core of the law relating to the Welsh language is to be found in primary legislation, or ‘statutes’, made by either the UK Parliament or Senedd Cymru. The principal statutes which contain provisions that apply in relation to the Welsh language are:

Orders and regulations (subordinate legislation) have been made under both the 1993 Act and the Measure.

Before April 2012, the Welsh Language Board was responsible for requiring certain public bodies who provide services to the public in Wales to have a Welsh language scheme and for monitoring their compliance with the scheme. Those bodies were required to prepare a scheme which specified how they proposed to give effect to the principle that in the conduct of public business and the administration of justice in Wales, the English and Welsh languages should be treated on a basis of equality.

The National Assembly passed the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 to reform the existing laws regarding the use of Welsh in the delivery of public services. The Welsh Language Board has been replaced by a Welsh Language Commissioner and the existing system of Welsh language schemes is gradually being replaced with standards of conduct relating to the Welsh language.

Cymraeg 2050

A million Welsh speakers by 2050

The Welsh language is one of the treasures of Wales. It is part of what defines us as people and as a nation. Our ambition as Welsh Government is to see the number of people able to enjoy speaking and using Welsh reach a million by 2050. This is certainly a challenging ambition, but a challenge we believe is worthwhile and necessary if we are to secure the vitality of the language for future generations.

The starting point for this strategy marks the 50th anniversary of the first Welsh Language Act in 1967. We now live in different times and the status of Welsh is enshrined in legislation made in Wales.

Read more in the Cymraeg 2050 Welsh Language Strategy (pdf).