Welsh Language Act 1993

The Welsh Language Act came into force in 1993. The Act consisted of three main elements:

• Equality - establishing the principle that the Welsh and English languages should be treated on a basis of equality in the conduct of public business and the administration of justice in Wales
• Provision of services - ensuring that public bodies providing services to the public in Wales prepare Language Schemes describing how they will provide Welsh services in accordance with guidelines issued by the Welsh Language Board
• Establishment of a statutory Language Board to oversee Language Schemes and to promote the Welsh language generally.

Traditionally, the voluntary and community sector has been innovative and pioneering in ensuring equality and inclusion, and although voluntary organisations are under no statutory obligation to prepare Language Schemes, more and more organisations are deciding to do so to ensure language choice and a better standard of service to their clients and the public.

Website development: Technoleg Taliesin Cyf., based on a design by Graham Jones