§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what date his Department 495W received notification from the Welsh Language Board in relation to the need to prepare a Welsh language scheme; on what date his Department and the Board held consultations on such a scheme; when a scheme was formally submitted to the Board; and if it has been approved. [53355]
§ Mr. MudieThe Welsh Language Board formally invited this Department to produce a Welsh Language Scheme on 4 December 1996. The Department offered a draft Scheme to the Board for comment in August 1997. Since then, officials and the Board have held a number of consultations on the contents of the Scheme. 1 hope the Board will shortly confirm that it has no further suggestions to amend the draft. This Department can then consult the public; that is necessary before formal submission to the Board.