Welsh language scheme

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's Welsh Language Scheme.

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Department
for Culture,
Media & Sport

The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) helps to drive growth, enrich lives and promote Britain abroad. DCMS  protects and promotes its cultural and artistic heritage and helps businesses and communities to grow by investing in innovation and highlighting Britain as a fantastic place to visit. DCMS helps to give the UK a unique advantage on the global stage, striving for economic success.

About the DCMS Welsh Language Scheme

The Welsh Language Act 1993 established the Welsh Language Board to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language and provided for the preparation by public bodies of schemes giving 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 Act provided that persons acting on behalf of the Crown could choose whether to prepare such a scheme and DCMS decided to do so.

The Scheme came into effect on 8 June 2007.

DCMS has since revised its Welsh Language Scheme twice and was last approved by the Welsh Language Commissioner on 4 April 2024.

The National Assembly for Wales (now the Senedd), passed the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 to modernise the legal framework regarding the use of the Welsh language. The Measure included provisions to replace the Welsh Language Board with the Welsh Language Commissioner and replace Language Schemes with standards of conduct relating to the Welsh language, known as “Welsh language standards”. However, Language Schemes remain in force until they have been replaced by Welsh language standards which apply to that person. DCMS is not currently under a duty to comply with Welsh language standards and has updated its Scheme prepared under Section 21 of the 1993 Act [and in accordance with guidelines issued by the Welsh Language Commission under Section 9 of the Act].

The Scheme covers the services that DCMS provide to the public in Wales and how DCMS propose 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. In the Scheme, the term ‘public’ means individuals, natural and legal persons including corporate bodies. It includes the public as a whole, or a section of the public, as well as individual members of the public. The term includes voluntary organisations and charities. Directors and others representing limited companies are also within the meaning of the term ‘public’. It does not, however, include persons who are acting in a capacity which is representative of the Crown, Government or the State. Consequently, persons who fulfil official functions of a public nature do not come within the meaning of the word ‘public’ when they are fulfilling those official functions.

About DCMS

The aim of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) is to drive growth, enrich lives and promote Britain abroad. DCMS is helping to create a world-leading economy; the department promotes the UK’s cultural, sporting and artistic heritage; and DCMS is responsible for building a bigger, stronger civil society.

DCMS is critical to creating economic opportunity, innovation and collective inspiration and enjoyment. The cultural, media, sporting and charity sectors are worth £145 billion (8% of UK GVA in 2022) and support almost 4 million jobs. Our creative industries alone are worth more to the economy than life sciences, automotive manufacturing, aerospace and the oil and gas sectors combined.

DCMS leads an agenda which puts Britain on the world stage (international sporting events, international cultural links, world class heritage and tourism etc). DCMS’s sectors play a crucial role in regional and local economic and social development and well-being. DCMS also leads on promoting volunteering, philanthropy, community and social action, socially responsible business and the National Citizen Service.

The department’s priority outcomes are:

• Growth - drive growth across all our sectors, including creative industries and tourism, and support them in levelling up our local economies.
• Opportunity - create opportunity for young people and enrich communities, alongside our public bodies and charities sector, by increasing participation in, and expanding access to, grassroots sports, arts and heritage, libraries and youth services.
• Global - showcase the UK to the world and boost our global reputation by delivering major cultural and sporting events across the country.
• Delivery - deliver reforms to make our world class media sector fit for the 21st century, make the UK the safest place in the world to gamble, and protect the excellence and financial sustainability of English football, putting fans at the heart of clubs.

A Concordat is in place that defines operational and working procedures between DCMS and the Senedd. This is relevant to issues such as joint working cooperation between the two bodies. Decisions on the division of responsibility for Welsh language provision will be determined in consultation with the Senedd and with reference to the Concordat.

While much of DCMS areas of responsibility are devolved to the Senedd, the Department retains policy in a number of reserved areas. These include: anti-doping policy, public entertainment licensing, broadcasting, film classification, gambling law and regulation, the National Lottery and sports ground safety (for grounds used in the English football league and the Principality Stadium).

Also a number of UK-wide initiatives are retained e.g. Acceptance in Lieu of Tax, Government Indemnity Scheme and the Public Lending Right. Policies will be kept under review as they are created with regard to the relevance they may have to Welsh-speaking people under the general principles.

DCMS public bodies

The department provides almost no services direct to the general public across the UK, including in Wales. Most services to the public are provided via DCMS’s public bodies. At the time of publication, DCMS has 42 public bodies, ranging from the National Museums to small advisory bodies, to nationwide funders and major regulators.

This includes 15 museums; the British Library; regulators such as the Gambling Commission; and national funding bodies such as the National Lottery Community Fund. The Department is responsible for Public Service Broadcasting in the UK, and as such has a direct relationship with Sianel Pedwar Cymru (“S4C”), which broadcasts across Wales in the Welsh language.

DCMS’ public bodies with their own Welsh Language Schemes are: the Charity Commission, the Gambling Commission, National Lottery Heritage Fund, and UK Sport.

The only DCMS public bodies subject to Welsh language standards are the National Lottery Community Fund, the BBC and S4C.

While the public bodies operate within broad policy guidelines set by Ministers, day-to-day operations, including the implementation of Welsh Language Act measures, are a matter for the Chief Executive of each body.

Where public bodies do not have their own Welsh Language Schemes or are not subject to Welsh language standards, DCMS will support and encourage the relevant public bodies to adopt the principles of this Welsh Language Scheme. DCMS will, where applicable, add a clause on complying with its Welsh Language Scheme into public bodies’ management agreements, where they operate in Wales or offer services to the public in Wales, as these agreements are revised.

DCMS will encourage public bodies to prepare their own Welsh Language Schemes if requested by the Welsh Language Commissioner.

Service planning and delivery

DCMS policies, initiatives and services will be consistent with the Scheme. They will support the use of Welsh and will, whenever possible, help the public in Wales use Welsh as part of their day-to-day lives.

All senior managers in DCMS will be alerted to the Scheme through provision of information on the DCMS intranet as well as through training. This information will also outline the principles underlying the Welsh Language Act. The DCMS Devolution team will be the point of reference for reporting compliance to the Welsh Language Commissioner.

When formulating and delivering policies and initiatives that impact on Wales, DCMS will:

• ensure that the linguistic consequences have been assessed
• ensure that the contents of such policies and initiatives are consistent with the Scheme, and do not undermine it or the schemes of other organisations
• ensure that the measures contained in this Scheme are also applied to new policies and initiatives when they are implemented, as well as to existing policies
• assess that if existing policies, codes of practice, guidance etc are found to be at odds with the provision of the Welsh Language Act and the Scheme, they will be revised as soon as possible
• promote and facilitate the use of Welsh wherever practicable
• ensure that whenever possible, DCMS’s consultation documents will discuss the relationship between the Welsh language and the policies, initiatives and services under development
• move the department closer to the goal of achieving full equality at every opportunity
• contribute to the development or delivery of policies and initiatives, services or legislation led by other organisations in a way that is consistent with this Scheme
• take advantage of every opportunity to ensure that new primary and secondary legislation supports the use of Welsh

Delivery of services

As previously stated, the department provides almost no services direct to the general public, whether in Wales or the rest of the UK. Most services to the public are provided via Public  Bodies (for example, national museums and galleries). DCMS services to the public in Wales will be delivered in accordance with the contents of this Scheme. We will let the public know when services are available in Welsh.

Services provided in Welsh and English will be of equal quality and will be provided within the same timescale. This will be made clear whenever the DCMS makes statements on service quality and equal opportunities.

DCMS regulatory functions and services undertaken on its behalf by third parties

Any agreements or arrangements which we make with third parties will be consistent with the relevant parts of this Scheme, when those agreements or arrangements relate to the provision of services to the public in Wales. We will monitor and ensure that third parties provide those services in accordance with the commitments set out in this Scheme.

Awarding grants and loans

When we award grants and loans for activities to be undertaken in Wales, we will include conditions with regard to the use of Welsh. In doing this, we will have regard to any guidelines published by the Welsh Language Commissioner in this respect.

Dealing with the Welsh-speaking public

Correspondence

We welcome correspondence in either Welsh or English. When someone writes to us in Welsh, we will reply in the same language. The target time for replying to correspondence in Welsh, and the type of reply sent, will be the same as that for replying to correspondence in English.

DCMS will initiate correspondence in Welsh with an individual, a group or organisation, which is known to work mainly in Welsh or to prefer to receive letters in Welsh. We have developed a system to record language choice, so that once a Welsh language preference is known, subsequent correspondence will be in Welsh, unless the person or organisation concerned indicates to the contrary.

Enclosures sent with bilingual letters will be bilingual, when available. Enclosures sent with Welsh letters will be Welsh or bilingual, when available. The above will apply to e-mail correspondence as well as paper correspondence. All hard-copy Welsh correspondence that we issue will be signed.

If we issue circulars or standard letters to the public in Wales, we will do so bilingually.

Freedom of Information requests

Where requests are made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, we will translate the response into Welsh provided that the number of words to be translated is less than 100.

Decision letters

If a decision letter is intended to convey policy to a much wider audience than those directly involved with the inquiry, or other statutory procedure, DCMS will consider whether it should be treated, under this Scheme, as a publication.

Telephone communications

Due to DCMS’s locations, it would not be practicable to conduct telephone conversations in Welsh. Telephone helplines, or similar facilities, to give information, services or support to the public in Welsh will be made available if the issue has wide appeal and relevance to the general public in Wales.

Where this is not the case, members of the public wishing to communicate with DCMS in Welsh will be informed that they are able to do so by letter or email.

Public meetings

DCMS does not often hold public meetings, inquiries or hearings. Where such DCMS-led meetings are held, and where they take place in Wales, translation services will be provided, unless DCMS has established that all participants are likely to use the same language. Invitations and advertisements for public meetings will be bilingual and either note that translation facilities will be available or invite the public to let DCMS know in advance in which language they wish to speak. DCMS will let those attending public meetings know when translation facilities are available and encourage contributions in Welsh.

DCMS normal practice will be to provide papers and other information for public meetings in Welsh and English. Due to DCMS’s locations it would not usually be practicable to offer face-to-face meetings with the public in Welsh, but DCMS would strive to provide translation if we assess there to be a need; taking into account the forum, event organisers, and attendees.

Other dealings with the public in Wales

When DCMS undertakes public surveys, normal practice will be to ensure that all aspects of communication with the public will be bilingual. Wherever practicable respondents will be asked if they wish to respond to the survey in Welsh or English. When DCMS arranges seminars, training courses or similar events for the public, DCMS will make arrangements locally to provide them in Welsh where the department assesses there is a need; taking into account the forum, event organisers, and attendees.

The department’s public face

Publicity campaigns, exhibitions and advertising

Publicity, public information, exhibition and advertising material the DCMS use in Wales (in order to target the general public) will be produced bilingually, or as separate Welsh and English versions. If the Welsh and English versions have to be published separately both versions will be equal with regard to size, prominence and quality. If separate English and Welsh versions are published, each will contain a message stating that it is available in the other language.

Any advertisements placed in English language newspapers (or similar material) distributed mainly or wholly in Wales, will be bilingual, or will appear as separate Welsh and English versions. Both versions will appear simultaneously, and being equal with regard to size, prominence and quality. In Welsh language publications, advertisements will be in Welsh only.

Television, cinema and radio advertising directed to the general public in Wales will be conducted in Welsh and English. Television campaigns which appear on S4C during Welsh programming hours will be in Welsh. Radio campaigns broadcast during Welsh language programmes on commercial radio stations will be in Welsh. DCMS will avoid using Welsh language subtitles, or dubbing adverts into Welsh (excepting voice-overs).

Where we set up mechanisms (e.g. telephone lines, social media) to receive information from the general public in Wales, we will provide a Welsh language service.

Publications

DCMS will publish material made available to the public in Wales bilingually, subject to a scorecard* agreed with the Welsh Language Commissioner. Wherever it is practicable and cost-effective to do so, material will be issued as a single bilingual version, rather than separately in Welsh and English.

If the Welsh and English versions have to be published separately (for instance, where a single document would be too lengthy or bulky), both versions will be of equal size and quality. Each version will note clearly that the material is available in the other language.

If not available free of charge, the price of a bilingual document will not be greater than that of a single language publication – and the price of separate Welsh and English versions will be the same. The above will also apply to material made available electronically on DCMS’s GOV.UK website or in other formats.

*The Welsh Language scorecard, as agreed by the Welsh Language Commissioner, is used as a guide for officials in DCMS when producing public-facing documents or text. This scorecard does not apply to responding to correspondence from the general public, which is covered elsewhere in this Scheme.

Internet, websites and social media

DCMS and its public bodies are responsible for uploading text and documents to their specific sections of the GOV.UK website, denoted by the DCMS logo/name (or that of the relevant public body) appearing at the top of the page. DCMS will upload information in Welsh to these pages as appropriate (for example, where content is likely to be relevant to the people in Wales), judged on a case-by-case basis and using its scorecard. Some specific targets for Welsh translation on its website can be found in its action plan. Whenever DCMS posts English language publications on its website, the Welsh versions will be posted at the same time, if available.

When designing new websites, or redeveloping its existing websites, DCMS will take into account the Welsh Language Commissioner’s guidance with regard to developing websites.

DCMS is also responsible for a number of social media sites, and publishes information on them in Welsh where specifically relevant in Wales (e.g. an announcement where there is activity and/or is likely to affect people in Wales, or a policy with a cross-UK interest that has a strong interest to people in Wales and/or is likely to affect them).

Forms and associated explanatory material

DCMS’s normal practice will be to ensure that all forms and associated explanatory material for use by the public in Wales will be fully bilingual, with the Welsh and English versions together in one document. This will include interactive forms published on its websites.

Where prescribed forms, rules or procedures are required for use by the public in Wales, these will be produced in Welsh or bilingual format. When DCMS enters information on Welsh versions of forms that are sent to the public, DCMS will do so in Welsh. When DCMS enters information on bilingual forms that are sent to the public, DCMS will do so bilingually unless DCMS knows that the recipients would prefer to receive the information in Welsh or English only. When other organisations distribute forms on its behalf, DCMS will ensure that they do so in accordance with the above.

Official notices, public notices and staff recruitment notices

Official notices, public notices and staff recruitment notices placed in English-language newspapers (or similar media) distributed mainly or wholly in Wales will be bilingual, or appear as separate Welsh and English versions. Notices will be in Welsh in Welsh-language publications. The Welsh and English versions will be equal in terms of format, size, quality and prominence – whether produced as a single bilingual version, or as separate Welsh and English notices. In the English-language media, posts where the ability to speak Welsh is essential may be advertised in Welsh, with a brief description in English.

Recruitment notices and adverts placed in English-language journals (and other publications) with a UK-wide distribution may be in English, unless the post is one where the ability to speak Welsh is essential, in which case the notice may be fully bilingual, or in Welsh with a brief explanation in English.

Any official notices, public notices or staff recruitment notices placed elsewhere in Wales will be bilingual.

Press releases and contact with the media

Press releases to the Welsh-language press and broadcasting media in Wales will be issued in Welsh, where deadlines permit. When DCMS posts press releases which deal with matters in Wales, its normal practice will be to post them in Welsh and English.

Implementing the Scheme

Internal arrangements

This Scheme is issued with the full support of the DCMS Permanent Secretary.

The Devolution team in the Corporate Strategy directorate is responsible to the Secretary of State for the Scheme’s success and for monitoring its implementation. All Directors and Deputy Directors will be responsible for ensuring that their teams operate in accordance with the Scheme. Staff will be sent guidance (that will be regularly updated) on the use of Welsh and the implications of this Scheme.

DCMS will update its action plan (see Annex) and report progress to the  Commissioner, setting out how the department will ensure that it will operate in accordance with this Scheme. The action plan will come into effect on the date on which the Scheme comes into effect, or as soon as possible thereafter. The plan will include targets, deadlines and a report to progress against each target. The overall aim of the action plan will be to ensure that we deliver the commitments set out in this Scheme as soon as possible.

Staffing

For any posts having extensive and regular contact with the public in Wales, DCMS will assess whether fluency in Welsh should be a desirable or essential – and this will be stated in job competencies and advertisements.

Bilingual requirements and an understanding of Welsh language matters are considered when appointments are made to Boards, Panels or Tribunals if they are likely to make decisions affecting Wales.

Training and awareness

DCMS will support and fund training for staff that, as part of their duties, have extensive and regular contact with the public in Wales – and who wish to learn Welsh, or improve their Welsh. DCMS will allow staff to attend courses during working hours.

Whenever practicable, DCMS will provide vocational training in Welsh to develop the ability of staff who, as part of their duties, have extensive and regular contact with the public in Wales.

In addition, the Devolution team will look to increase visibility of the Scheme to all staff through internal departmental resources, including the departmental intranet, e-newsletters, and including the Welsh language in its devolution learning sessions. The team will also prepare guidance for staff on how to use the translation services, and associated budget arrangements.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

The need to provide information and services in Welsh, and operate in accordance with this Scheme, will be catered for as the department develops, designs and purchases information and communications technology products and services.

As DCMS develops or procure ICT systems, DCMS will take into account Welsh language requirements and consider guidance from the Welsh Language Commissioner, as appropriate.

Partnership working

When DCMS is the strategic and financial leader within a formal partnership, DCMS will ensure that any public service aspects comply with this Scheme. When DCMS joins a formal partnership which another organisation is leading, its input to the partnership will comply with this Scheme. When acting in the name of the consortium, DCMS will operate in accordance with this Scheme. When DCMS is a partner in a consortium, DCMS will encourage the consortium to comply with this Scheme. Where DCMS works with one of its public bodies (or another Government Department – OGD) to jointly produce documents, the Welsh Language Scheme of the body or OGD with the stronger commitment will prevail.

The above refers only to formal partnerships dealing with services available to the public in Wales.

Monitoring

DCMS will monitor its progress in meeting the commitments made in this Scheme. Each year, DCMS will submit a report on progress to its executive management board and ministers, and a copy will be sent to the Welsh Language Commissioner.

Reviewing and amending the Scheme

DCMS will keep this Scheme under regular review, with a formal review after four years. DCMS may also need to review this Scheme, or propose amendments to this Scheme, because of changes to its functions, or to the circumstances in which DCMS undertakes those functions, or for any other reason.

No changes will be made to this Scheme without the Welsh Language Commissioner’s approval.

Complaints and suggestions for improvement

DCMS welcomes suggestions from the public or from staff on how the operation of the Scheme might be improved. These will be evaluated and the originator of the suggestion will be informed of the outcome.

Any complaints or suggestions about the way in which DCMS has implemented the Scheme should be directed to the Devolution team, at the following address:

Welsh Language Scheme Co-ordinator
Devolution Team
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
100 Parliament Street
London
SW1A 2BQ

enquiries@dcms.gov.uk

DCMS will cooperate with the Commission in order to resolve complaints and during any investigations held under Section 17 of the Welsh Language Act 1993.

Annex: Action plan

This action plan outlines the commitments we are making which are to be implemented for a specific date.

Reference	Commitment	Target date
A	DCMS will include information about the Welsh Language Scheme in face-to-face induction sessions (delivered to new starters).	In place at time of publication of the Scheme and ongoing.
B	DCMS will add a line to its GOV.UK webpage stating that it welcomes correspondence in Welsh and that it will not lead to a delay in response.	In place at time of publication of the Scheme and ongoing.
C	DCMS will review whether the system to record language choice is being used effectively, on an annual basis.	In place at time of publication and then kept under review annually thereafter.
D	DCMS will translate the ‘About Us’ section of the DCMS GOV.UK page into Welsh, adding an English/Welsh toggle to the top of the page. This toggle will be added as appropriate where it increases the Welsh-language content on its web pages.	In place at time of publication of the Scheme.
E	DCMS will bring in new procedures to ensure that time is allowed in its comms team’s forward-planning process in order to translate content into Welsh, where relevant. This includes GOV.UK, social media, and other publicity material.	In place at time of publication of the Scheme – and kept under review.
F	DCMS will add a link to the Scheme on its GOV.UK webpages.	On publication of the Scheme.