Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Debating the language
Today's debate on the long-awaited Welsh Language LCO is the start of a journey strewn with pitfalls both for the Government, the future of the One Wales coalition and for those with an interest in language issues.
It has taken us some time to get to this stage. Eighteen months in fact since the Assembly elections and already we are getting voices off saying that it does not go far enough or that it goes too far, and that is before we actually have any proposals in front of us.
The Legislative Competence Order that was published yesterday does nothing more than draw down the powers for the Assembly to legislate. It does not change anything. I would suggest therefore that those getting aerated about the issue need to keep their powder dry for the time being.
The question is not whether this LCO will lead to a measure that will hit small businesses at some time in the future but whether the powers it confers on the Assembly are adequate. Why for example does it need to have so many caveats included in it? Surely, it is natural that the power to legislate on the Welsh language should reside with the Assembly. There is no need for Westminster to have any role in that at all.
We are accountable to our electorate and we have to answer for what we pass. It is when we come to table our own measure that the very legitimate concerns of small and medium sized businesses need to be looked at.
By raising all these concerns in the way that they have drafted the LCO, the government have created a fairly hazardous road for themselves along which they need to travel. The timetable for this Order does not envisage it getting royal consent before December 2009. That means that we are going to have nearly a year debating the language at a time when people are more concerned with their jobs, their mortgages and their ability to put food on the table.
That does not mean that we should not have the debate but it will be distracting and it will be doubly so because the Government has been so timid in what it is demanding. With pages of caveats, exemptions and restrictions to debate we will be tied down in the detail of this bid for powers at a time when we should be dealing with broad principles.
The One Wales Government will be seen as being obsessed with the Welsh language and that will hit support for it and for Plaid Cymru in particular. In the meantime the opposition will be pressing on bread and butter issues. These are interesting times.
It has taken us some time to get to this stage. Eighteen months in fact since the Assembly elections and already we are getting voices off saying that it does not go far enough or that it goes too far, and that is before we actually have any proposals in front of us.
The Legislative Competence Order that was published yesterday does nothing more than draw down the powers for the Assembly to legislate. It does not change anything. I would suggest therefore that those getting aerated about the issue need to keep their powder dry for the time being.
The question is not whether this LCO will lead to a measure that will hit small businesses at some time in the future but whether the powers it confers on the Assembly are adequate. Why for example does it need to have so many caveats included in it? Surely, it is natural that the power to legislate on the Welsh language should reside with the Assembly. There is no need for Westminster to have any role in that at all.
We are accountable to our electorate and we have to answer for what we pass. It is when we come to table our own measure that the very legitimate concerns of small and medium sized businesses need to be looked at.
By raising all these concerns in the way that they have drafted the LCO, the government have created a fairly hazardous road for themselves along which they need to travel. The timetable for this Order does not envisage it getting royal consent before December 2009. That means that we are going to have nearly a year debating the language at a time when people are more concerned with their jobs, their mortgages and their ability to put food on the table.
That does not mean that we should not have the debate but it will be distracting and it will be doubly so because the Government has been so timid in what it is demanding. With pages of caveats, exemptions and restrictions to debate we will be tied down in the detail of this bid for powers at a time when we should be dealing with broad principles.
The One Wales Government will be seen as being obsessed with the Welsh language and that will hit support for it and for Plaid Cymru in particular. In the meantime the opposition will be pressing on bread and butter issues. These are interesting times.
Comments:
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all this "businesses won't come to Wales if they have to be bilingual" nonsense is.. well, nonsense. For one, businesses are already going bilingual, look at the jobcenter website: half the office/admin jobs are for bilingual people. So business has anticipated this, and is already doing it.
Any criticism will come from BIG business. If they move to Wales, they'll have to employ (at least some) local Welsh-speaking people, instead of moving their staff in en-masse from Bradford or Milan or somewhere. Also, call-centers will have to employ Welsh people, instead of being based in India or somewhere.
More jobs for Welsh (speaking) people - why is that a bad thing?
Any criticism will come from BIG business. If they move to Wales, they'll have to employ (at least some) local Welsh-speaking people, instead of moving their staff in en-masse from Bradford or Milan or somewhere. Also, call-centers will have to employ Welsh people, instead of being based in India or somewhere.
More jobs for Welsh (speaking) people - why is that a bad thing?
These are dangerous times more like. Providing a legislative basis for the support of the Welsh language will make Wales a less attractive place to do business.
Yet another example of idealism overriding practicalities.
Everyone has ideal's, and the public at large will support them, PROVIDED their pursuit doesn't adversely effect them, which this will.
This is such a vote loser.
Do you oppose this Peter? I hope you do. I'd hate to think the Liberal Democrats, a welcome source of common sense, would support something that furthers an idealist aim that causes damage in practice.
Yet another example of idealism overriding practicalities.
Everyone has ideal's, and the public at large will support them, PROVIDED their pursuit doesn't adversely effect them, which this will.
This is such a vote loser.
Do you oppose this Peter? I hope you do. I'd hate to think the Liberal Democrats, a welcome source of common sense, would support something that furthers an idealist aim that causes damage in practice.
# posted by 
: 2:47 PM
: 2:47 PM
As native-born English speaker, living in London, I am so glad that, at least potentially, the Welsh language will gain equal status with English, in Wales.
As the "International Year of Languages" comes to an end on 21st February, you may be interested in the contribution, made by the World Esperanto Association, to UNESCO's campaign for the protection of endangered languages.
The following declaration was made in favour of Esperanto, by UNESCO at its Paris HQ in December 2008. http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=38420&URL_DO=DO_PRINTPAGE&URL_SECTION=201.html
The commitment to the campaign to save endangered languages was made, by the World Esperanto Association at the United Nations' Geneva HQ in September.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eR7vD9kChBA&feature=related or http://www.lernu.net
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As the "International Year of Languages" comes to an end on 21st February, you may be interested in the contribution, made by the World Esperanto Association, to UNESCO's campaign for the protection of endangered languages.
The following declaration was made in favour of Esperanto, by UNESCO at its Paris HQ in December 2008. http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=38420&URL_DO=DO_PRINTPAGE&URL_SECTION=201.html
The commitment to the campaign to save endangered languages was made, by the World Esperanto Association at the United Nations' Geneva HQ in September.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eR7vD9kChBA&feature=related or http://www.lernu.net
# posted by : 5:24 PM
: 5:24 PM<< Home
