Mark Isherwood MS

Chair of the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee

Welsh Parliament

Cardiff Bay

CF99 1SN

Ein Cyf/Our Ref: 241219/PBU/TM

20 December 2024

Dear Mr Isherwood,

Public Appointments

I am writing to update the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee on the work being undertaken to determine the Welsh language assessment of our board members. 

In the first week of January, we will be issuing board members with a short survey to capture their Welsh language skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing).  We aim to update the Committee on the outcome of that survey by the end of February 2025. This is in line with Action 1.1 of the Reflecting Wales in Running Wales strategy and will allow us to establish a baseline to guide future action. This survey will capture data from Public Sector Bodies listed in the Order in Council as following the Governance Code on Public Appointments. 

We will incorporate Welsh language proficiency into future data collection efforts for board members going forward. Welsh language skills are an important aspect of representation on our boards, and we are dedicated to building boards that reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity of Wales. 

I hope this is helpful to the Committee in considering its Inquiry into Public Appointments. 

Yours sincerely

Tim Moss

Cyfarwyddwr Cyffredinol a Phrif Swyddog Gweithredol

Llywodraeth Cymru

Director General and Chief Operating Officer

Welsh Government