Meetings

The Board welcomed Sarah Dafydd, Business Enhancement and Change Manager in the Translation and Reporting Service, to discuss the new Official Languages Scheme ahead of its presentation to the Commission on 23 January. The organisation had done well since the introduction of the legislation and the new Scheme built upon those successes and set a path to being truly bilingual by 2021.

Consultation had taken place, as was required by the Act, with Members, staff, Networks and Trade Union Side, the public through the website and with interested parties, and the views of the consultees had helped shape the new draft Scheme. The views were largely supportive, acknowledging the progress made to date, although feedback from Cymdeithas had been that the Scheme did not go far enough. The main area of concern that had been expressed by some staff was the introduction of language skills for all new posts, with at least a basic linguistic courtesy requirement. In parallel with the Scheme, an Equality Impact Assessment had been prepared to ensure the proposal did not jeopardise job applications from people with diverse backgrounds. Having taken the feedback into account, the draft Scheme represented a step up in terms of service delivery and a balanced approach towards achieving our bilingual ambitions.

The aim would be to use the language plans to intelligently work out the needs of each service area and recruit accordingly, matching the level of bilingual competence to the service required. The basic linguistic requirement would be established with new posts initially and then developed with current staff. Full support and various mechanisms for training would be available to help staff achieve their required level.  Evidence of other organisation’s experience had been considered when devising the plans. It was recognised that it was still difficult to find truly bilingual technology.

Management Board asked that external assurance on the Equality Impact Assessment was sought.

NDM5818 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with paragraph 8 (8) of Schedule 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006:

Notes the Annual Compliance Report on the Assembly Commission's Official Languages Scheme, laid before the National Assembly for Wales on 8 July 2015.

The item started at 15.24

NDM5818 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with paragraph 8 (8) of Schedule 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006:

Notes the Annual Compliance Report on the Assembly Commission's Official Languages Scheme, laid before the National Assembly for Wales on 8 July 2015.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Mair Parry-Jones presented the Bilingual Skills Strategy, which was a requirement of the Official Languages Scheme to ensure that there were the appropriate bilingual skills across service areas to support the Scheme requirements. A skills audit had been prepared to capture the language skill levels of staff and inform each service area’s future language plans. 

Management Board was asked to review and approve the Strategy and Audit. It was important for the Board to shape and fully support the Strategy’s objectives. Final versions would be approved by the Assembly Commissioner with responsibility for Official Languages.

The Board agreed that the focus of the Audit should be on Welsh language skills, including individuals’ confidence levels to use those skills.  The Audit would be a sensitive matter for some staff and, therefore, it was important that sufficient reassurances were provided within the Audit form itself as well as a clear communications plan for the rollout. The Board recommended piloting it further to test a sample of staff to ensure the data returned was useful.

Action: Mair Parry-Jones and Craig Stephenson to ensure clarity and improved flow for the Strategy’s objectives. Skills Audit form to be amended as discussed with next steps, a communications plan and revised versions to be further considered by Management Board.

NDM5556 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with paragraph 8 (8) of Schedule 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006:

Notes the Annual Compliance Report on the Assembly Commission’s Official Languages Scheme, laid before the National Assembly for Wales on 8 July 2014.

Supporting Documents

Annual Compliance Report on the Assembly Commission’s Official Languages Scheme

The item started at 15.53

NDM5556 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with paragraph 8 (8) of Schedule 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006:

Notes the Annual Compliance Report on the Assembly Commission’s Official Languages Scheme, laid before the National Assembly for Wales on 8 July 2014.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

paper 3

In accordance with the National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Act 2012, the Commission is required to produce an Official Languages Scheme. Each year the Commission must lay before the Assembly a report setting out how it has given effect to the Scheme during the reporting year. The report for 2013-14 would be laid before the Assembly for debate on 16 July.

Commissioners noted that good progress had been made throughout the year and commended staff for their achievements in these areas, including: 

-       the launch of the Microsoft Translator;

-       developing different ways to support Members in their committee work;

-       awareness training for all Assembly Commission staff;

-       the work carried out by the official languages scheme coordinators in each service area; and

-       enhanced support for Members’ bilingual constituency casework.

The priorities for the forthcoming year to further embed good practice across the organisation were agreed. Commissioners emphasised the importance of the Scheme in supporting their aim of making the Assembly a bilingual organisation and leading the way in developing bilingual services. Best practice should be shared where possible so that others could learn from the Assembly’s experience of supporting a bilingual workforce.