Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 Explanatory Notes

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

  1. Introduction

  2. Commentary on Sections

    1. Section 1 – Official status of the Welsh Language

    2. Section 2 – The Welsh Language Commissioner

    3. Section 3 – The Commissioner’s principal aim

    4. Section 4 – Promoting and facilitating the use of Welsh and treating Welsh no less favourably than English

    5. Section 5 – Production of 5-year reports

    6. Section 6 – 5-year reports: supplementary

    7. Section 7 – Inquiries

    8. Section 8 – Judicial review and other legal proceedings

    9. Section 9 – Legal assistance

    10. Section 10 – Legal assistance: costs

    11. Section 11 – Powers

    12. Section 12 – Staff

    13. Section 13 – Exercise of Commissioner’s functions by staff

    14. Section 14 – Complaints procedure

    15. Section 15 – Seal and validity of documents

    16. Section 16 – Welsh Ministers’ power of direction

    17. Section 17 – Consultation

    18. Section 18 – Annual reports

    19. Section 19 – Annual reports: supplementary

    20. Section 20 – Working jointly with the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

    21. Section 21 – Working collaboratively with ombudsmen, commissioners etc

    22. Section 22 – Power to disclose information

    23. Section 23 – Advisory Panel

    24. Section 24 – Consultation

    25. Section 25 – Duty to comply with a standard

    26. Section 26 – Welsh Ministers to specify standards

    27. Section 27 – Specification of standards: supplementary provision

    28. Section 28 – Service delivery standards

    29. Section 29 – Policy making standards

    30. Section 30 – Operational standards

    31. Section 31 – Promotion standards

    32. Section 32 – Record keeping standards

    33. Section 33 – Persons liable to be required to comply with standards

    34. Section 34 – Persons who are within Schedules 5, 6, 7 and 8

    35. Section 35 – Amendment to persons and categories specified in Schedules 6 and 8

    36. Section 36 – Persons within Schedule 6

    37. Section 37 – Persons within Schedule 8

    38. Section 38 – Amendment of standards potentially applicable

    39. Section 39 – Standards that are specifically applicable

    40. Section 40 – Duty to make standards specifically applicable

    41. Section 41 – Different standards relating to particular conduct

    42. Section 42 – Duty to make certain service delivery standards specifically applicable

    43. Section 43 – Limitation on power to make standards specifically applicable

    44. Section 44 – Compliance notices

    45. Section 45 – Giving compliance notices to any person

    46. Section 46 – Imposition days

    47. Section 47 – Consultation

    48. Section 48 – Giving compliance notices to contractors

    49. Section 49 – Varying compliance notices

    50. Section 50 – Revoking compliance notices

    51. Section 51 – When compliance notice is in force

    52. Section 52 – Publicising compliance notices

    53. Section 53 – Cessation of requirement to comply with standard

    54. Section 54 – Challenging future duties

    55. Section 55 – Challenging existing duties

    56. Section 56 – Applications to the Commissioner

    57. Section 57 – Determining an application

    58. Section 58 – Right of appeal

    59. Section 59 – Appeals from Tribunal

    60. Section 60 – Postponement of imposition of duty

    61. Section 61 – Standards investigations

    62. Section 62 – Power to carry out standards investigations

    63. Section 63 – Requirements when carrying out standards investigations

    64. Section 64 – Standards report

    65. Section 65 – Direction to carry out standards investigation

    66. Section 66 – Welsh Minister to have due regard to report

    67. Section 67 – Exception for broadcasting

    68. Section 68 – Codes of practice

    69. Section 69 – Failure to comply with codes

    70. Section 70 – Interpretation

    71. Section 71 – Investigating failure to comply with standards etc

    72. Section 72 – Discontinuing an investigation

    73. Section 73 – Determination of investigation

    74. Section 74 – Investigation reports

    75. Section 75 – Decision notices

    76. Section 76 – No failure to comply with a relevant requirement

    77. Section 77 – Failure to comply with a relevant requirement

    78. Section 78 – No imposed enforcement action

    79. Section 79 – Requirement to prepare action plan or take steps

    80. Section 80 – Action plans

    81. Section 81 – Publicising the failure to comply

    82. Section 82 – Requiring the failure to comply to be publicised

    83. Section 83 – Civil penalties

    84. Section 84 – Imposition of civil penalty

    85. Section 85 – Consultation before final determination etc

    86. Section 86 – Consultation before final determination following an appeal

    87. Section 87 – When enforcement action takes effect

    88. Section 88 – Failure to comply with requirement to take steps

    89. Section 89 – Failure to comply with action plan

    90. Section 90 – Failure to comply with requirement to publicise failure to comply

    91. Section 91 – Settlement agreements

    92. Section 92 – Failure to comply with settlement agreement

    93. Section 93 – Consideration of whether to investigate if conduct complained about

    94. Section 94 – Notification if no investigation etc

    95. Section 95 – Appeals to the Tribunal

    96. Section 96 – Powers of Tribunal on appeal

    97. Section 97 – Appeals from Tribunal

    98. Section 98 – Commissioner’s duty on an appeal

    99. Section 99 – Right of appeal by P

    100. Section 100 – Powers of Tribunal on appeal by P

    101. Section 101 – Appeals from Tribunal

    102. Section 102 – Commissioner’s duty on an appeal by P

    103. Section 103 – P’s right of review

    104. Section 104 – Powers of Tribunal on review

    105. Section 105 – Appeals from Tribunal

    106. Section 106 – Right to apply to be added as a party to proceedings

    107. Section 107 – Obstruction and contempt

    108. Section 108 – Enforcement policy document

    109. Section 109 – Register of enforcement action

    110. Section 110 – Interpretation

    111. Section 111 – Application to Commissioner

    112. Section 112 – Welsh communications

    113. Section 113 – Interference with freedom to use Welsh

      1. Case 1

      2. Case 2

      3. Case 3

    114. Section 114 – Deciding whether to investigate

    115. Section 115 – Investigations

    116. Section 116 – Discontinuing investigations

    117. Section 117 – Concluding investigations

    118. Section 118 – Reports

    119. Section 119 – Annual report to Welsh Ministers

    120. Section 120 – The Welsh Language Tribunal

    121. Section 121 – Composition for proceedings before Tribunal

    122. Section 122 – Hearings in public

    123. Section 123 – Welsh Language Tribunal Rules

    124. Section 124 – Practice directions

    125. Section 125 – Guidance, advice and information

    126. Section 126 – Supplementary powers

    127. Section 127 – Staff, accommodation and other resources of Tribunal

    128. Section 128 – Specially qualified advisers

    129. Section 129 – Seal

    130. Section 130 – Financial year

    131. Section 131 – Vacancy in the office of President

    132. Section 132 – President’s annual report

    133. Section 133 – Training etc for members of Tribunal

    134. Section 134 – Register of interests

    135. Section 135 – Publication of registers of interests

    136. Section 136 – Conflicts of interest

    137. Section 137 – Validity of acts

    138. Section 138 – Regulations

    139. Section 139 – Interpretation of this Chapter

    140. Section 140 – Absolute privilege

    141. Section 141 – Interpretation of this Chapter

    142. Section 142 – Restrictions

    143. Section 143 – Abolition of the Board and transfer of functions

    144. Section 144 – Abolition of the Board’s general functions and replacement of schemes with standards

    145. Section 145 – Replacement of Welsh language schemes with standards

    146. Section 146 – Other provision

    147. Section 147 – Supplementary

    148. Section 148 – Welsh Ministers to prepare an action plan

    149. Section 149 – The Welsh Language Partnership Council

    150. Section 150 – Orders and regulations

    151. Section 151 – Directions

    152. Section 152 – Notices etc

    153. Section 153 – Interpretation of this Measure

    154. Section 154 – Transitional and consequential provision etc

    155. Section 155 – Extent

    156. Section 156 – Commencement

    157. Section 157 – Short Title

    158. Schedule 1 – The Welsh Language Commissioner

      1. Paragraph 1 – Status

      2. Paragraph 2 – Validity of acts

      3. Paragraph 3 – Appointment

      4. Paragraph 4 – Remuneration, allowances and pensions

      5. Paragraph 5 – Terms of appointment

      6. Paragraph 6 – Duration of appointment

      7. Paragraph 7 – Appointment regulations

      8. Paragraph 8 – Delegation of appointment functions etc

      9. Paragraph 9 – Resignation

      10. Paragraph 10 – Disqualification

      11. Paragraph 11 – Dismissal

      12. Paragraph 12 – Payments on ceasing to hold office

      13. Paragraph 13 – Disqualification from being Commissioner

      14. Paragraph 14 – Payments by the Welsh Ministers

      15. Paragraph 15 – Financial year

      16. Paragraph 16 – Accounting officer

      17. Paragraph 17 – Estimates

      18. Paragraph 18 – Accounts

      19. Paragraph 19 – Audit

      20. Paragraph 20 – Examinations into the use of resources

      21. Paragraph 21 – Interpretation

    159. Schedule 2 – Inquiries by the Commissioner

      1. Paragraph 1 – Introduction

      2. Paragraph 2 to 5 – Terms of reference

      3. Paragraphs 6 and 7 – Representations

      4. Paragraph 8 – Reports on inquires

    160. Schedule 3 – Amendments about joint and collaborative working

    161. Schedule 4 – Members of the Advisory Panel

      1. Paragraph 1 – Appointment

      2. Paragraph 2 – Remuneration, allowances and pensions

      3. Paragraph 3 – Terms of appointment

      4. Paragraph 4 – Duration of appointment

      5. Paragraph 5 – Appointment regulations

      6. Paragraph 6 – Resignation

      7. Paragraph 7 – Disqualification from membership

      8. Paragraph 8 – Dismissal

      9. Paragraph 9 – Payments on ceasing to hold office

      10. Paragraph 10 – Disqualification on grounds of employment

      11. Paragraph 11 – Interpretation

    162. Schedule 5 – Categories of Persons that may be added to Schedule 6

    163. Schedule 6 – Public bodies etc: standards

    164. Schedule 7 – Categories of Persons that may be added to Schedule 8

    165. Schedule 8 – Other bodies: standards

    166. Schedule 9 – Activities in relation to which service delivery standards must be specified

    167. Schedule 10 – Commissioner’s investigation of failure to comply with standards etc

      1. paragraph 1 – Introduction

      2. Paragraph 2 – Terms of reference

      3. Paragraphs 3 and 4 – Representations

      4. Paragraphs 5 and 6 – Evidence notices

      5. Paragraphs 7 and 8 – Confidentiality etc

      6. Paragraphs 9 and 10 – Appeals

      7. Paragraph 11 – Enforcement

      8. Paragraph 12 – Power of entry and inspection

    168. Schedule 11 – The Welsh Language Tribunal

      1. paragraph 1 – Legally-qualified members

      2. Paragraph 2 – Lay members

      3. Paragraph 3 – The President

      4. Paragraph 4 – Legally-qualified members

      5. Paragraph 5 – Lay members

      6. Paragraph 6 – Remuneration etc

      7. Paragraph 7 – Terms of appointment

      8. Paragraph 8 – Duration of appointment

      9. Paragraph 9 – Appointment regulations

      10. Paragraph 10 – Resignation

      11. Paragraph 11 – Disqualification from membership

      12. Paragraph 12 – Dismissal

      13. Paragraph 13 – Disqualification from membership: employment

      14. Paragraph 14 – Disqualification from membership: unsuitability

      15. Paragraph 15 – Disqualification from appointment: age

      16. Paragraph 16 – Disqualification from appointment: previous appointment

      17. Paragraph 17 – Disqualification from appointment: previous dismissal from office

      18. Paragraph 18 – Interpretation

    169. Schedule 12 – Abolition of the Welsh Language Board: other provision

      1. Paragraph 1 – Staff of the Board

      2. Paragraph 2 – Property, rights and liabilities of the Board

      3. Paragraph 3 – Modification of the 1993 Act in relation to functions transferred to Welsh Ministers

      4. Paragraph 4 – References to the Board

      5. Paragraph 5 – Continuation of legal proceedings, validity of acts etc

      6. Paragraph 6 – Interpretation

  3. Record of Proceedings in National Assembly for Wales

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

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