Legislation Committee No. 5

Proposed National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Welsh Language) Order 2009

Consultation Responses

IG59(o) Independent Police Complaints Commission

The IPCC supports the proposal that the National Assembly for Wales be able to make laws on the promotion and use of the Welsh language, laws concerning the services the public should be able to receive bilingually and laws on the freedom of persons to use the Welsh language with each other.

The IPCC has developed a Welsh language scheme setting out its commitment to providing bilingual services to the public within Wales.

This has highlighted the significant financial impact which is involved in the implementation of such measures and the IPCC would request that the Welsh Assembly Government consider this when legislating on duties and timescales.  The IPCC would also ask that the Welsh Assembly Government take into account the fact that the Wales and South West regional office serves the public in both Wales and the South West of England.  In doing so it is essential that the workforce reflects the diversity of the demographic area it covers.