Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 3 Vote on WB141, the Protection of Welsh Language Agency Amendment (Expansion of Service) Bill, in the name of Llafur Cymru.

Welsh Language Agency Amendment (Expansion of Service) Bill

A

BILL

TO

make amendments to the Welsh Language Agency Act 2022 to allow the Welsh Language Agency to help businesses to provide Welsh Translations, in accordance with the Welsh Language Act 2021.

Having been passed by the Senedd Cymru and having received the assent of His Majesty, it is enacted as follows–

Section 1 - Amending Section 2

(1) The Welsh Language Act 2021 section 2 will be amended to add an additional subsection:

(e) Offer services to help provide Welsh businesses with Welsh Language translations for written texts.

Section 2 - Commencement and Extent

(1) This Act shall come into force immediately after receiving Royal Assent.

(2) This Act may be cited as the Welsh Language Agency Amendment (Expansion of Service) Act 2023.

Proposed by Dyn-Cymru on behalf of Llafur Cymru, the official opposition.

Opening Speech:

Llywydd,

The Welsh Language Agency is an institution set up by Plaid Cymru but will have its full potential expanded upon by Llafur Cymru, as now it only provides certain services to help facilitate the use of the Welsh Language but does not provide anything about providing a service of direct translations in of itself. The WLA is an institution that would be able to help provide businesses Welsh Language translations to their services, a requirement under the Welsh Language Act.

This expansion of the WLA will work on a submission based system where businesses will submit their services in English and the WLA will provide the Welsh Language translation in the order they're received. The WLA will soon become a key part of doing business in Wales as it will be a tool for Welsh Businesses. This will also ensure that the translations are accurate and correct in the context they're meant to be used.

This would not increase costs of the WLA to a significant level and would ensure that the money being put towards the agency are put to better use and are more efficient. Such expansion of Welsh services will not only benefit Welsh speakers but Welsh learners as they can immerse themselves in the language and be sure that it's accurate and able to be used in a non business context. This is part of Llafur Cymru's Byw yn Gymraeg Plan which I hope we can build upon in the future to make a Cymru Cymraeg.

Providing direct translations will also allow other factors of the bill to be met, since exposure to the Welsh Language, aided by the exposure of it, since we'll be able to see the direct results itself. This will only benefit Wales as we also will see costs of changing the translation due to errors being erased, meaning money can be better spent in areas where it is more likely to be used for reinvestment.

Diolch.

Voting on this bill will end on Sunday 10th September at 10pm BST.