HC Deb 08 December 1998 vol 322 cc183-4W
Mr. Gareth Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to ensure that the Welsh Language Board monitors Welsh language schemes effectively. [62364]

Mr. Michael

The Welsh Language Board has to set out plans for its activities in its corporate and operational plans. These plans require the approval of Ministers. Under the current approved operational plan, the Board is requiring bodies operating Welsh language schemes to submit annual reports on how they have carried out those schemes. The Board also uses its powers to investigate matters relating to individual schemes where it receives a complaint, or where it has other reason to believe that there has been a failure to carry out a scheme.

The Board's work and progress against its approved plans, is monitored in a cycle of regular meetings with Ministers and officials.