Welsh Secretary announces new guidance at joint Eisteddfod event with Welsh Language Commissioner

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns has launched new guidance for UK Government departments when planning and delivering bilingual communications activity targeted at audiences in Wales.

The guidance, the first of its kind for the UK Government, was announced at a joint event with Welsh Language Commissioner Aled Roberts at S4C’s pavilion at the National Eisteddfod in Llanrwst on Monday [5 August].

The guidance has been endorsed by the Commissioner’s office along with the Government Communications Service, the professional body for people working in communications roles across government. Included are recommendations and good practice on designing and creating quality bilingual content in areas including events, consultations and campaigns.

The Welsh Language Act places a duty on public organisations to treat the English and Welsh languages equally when providing services to the public in Wales. So far, 11 UK Government departments have implemented their own Welsh language schemes as a result of the Act, with more expected to follow soon.

The new guidance is intended to complement these departmental Welsh language schemes, providing practical examples to ensure communicators raise the quality of bilingual output and enable citizens and businesses in all parts of Wales to engage better with the work of UK Government departments.