§ Mr. SweeneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will approve the draft guidelines on the form and content of Welsh language schemes sent to him by the Welsh Language Board, and if he will lay the draft guidelines before Parliament. [28359]
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§ Mr. RedwoodI am today laying before Parliament copies of draft guidelines submitted to me by the board in accordance with section 10 of the Welsh Language Act 1993, and which I have approved without amendment. I am also placing in the Libraries copies of the board's detailed report to me on the consultation it undertook earlier this year on the draft guidelines. I am grateful to the board for the thoroughness and professionalism which it demonstrated in conducting the consultation and producing its report; the way is now open, subject to parliamentary consideration of the guidelines, for the board to take forward the implementation of part II of the Act. In this, I shall be looking to the board to continue to demonstrate the flexible and sensible approach which has already been evident in its work over the last 18 months.