Government agency ceasing use of Welsh language
Posted by Filed under Welsh
A Government savings agency is to abandon its Welsh language services.
National Savings and Investments (NS&I), which is best known for Premium Bonds, says that the service costs too much to run; with just 107 customers corresponding with the company in Welsh in February 2012, that represents a cost of over £900 per customer which it says is “not a cost effective use of public funds.”
Crown body language schemes are voluntary, but once adopted, cannot be revoked.
Gwenith Price, Deputy Welsh Language Commissioner, has asked the Welsh Secretary to intervene. She stated that
“When the Welsh Language Act 1993 became law the government of the day gave an undertaking that government departments and Crown bodies would prepare Welsh language schemes in the exact same way as that of public bodies.
The NS&I’s scheme was given approval in 2007. There is no provision within that act which enables an organisation, of its own volition, to end a scheme.”
Welsh Language Commissioner Meri Huws has also written to the bank, and received a reply stating that the company’s intention was to end Welsh language services by April 22nd.