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The debate on the future of the Welsh language needs to move away from "safe" issues and instead tackle topics such as immigration and the allocation of housing. This was the pre-election message this week from the Chair of the Welsh Language Board, Ms Meri Huws.
Ms Huws comments, made in the Welsh language magazine Barn, aroused criticism from some Welsh politicians for making her "controversial" opinion known so close to tomorrow's election. However, in the League's view Ms Huws should be applauded for expressing her concerns before Election Day and for attempting to bring the debate further into the mainstream arena.
The issues of migration, housing, and the creation of a protected Welsh speaking heartland, which Ms Huws also commented upon, are areas associated with the Welsh language that many politicians in Wales are "too scared to touch". While politicians prefer to talk about the "safe" language related issues like bilingual signs and adult education classes Ms Huws said, the real problems were not being dealt with adequately.
It has now been six years since Gwynydd Councillor Seimon Glyn voiced his concerns over the state of the language in the Welsh speaking heartlands, sparking a vigorous debate and inspiring the dramatic rise of the Welsh community and language movement, Cymuned. Councillor Glyn said that English people moving to Welsh speaking areas should be monitored and made to learn Welsh and accused Plaid Cymru of brushing the language issue "under the carpet" for electoral gain.
However, Councillor Glyn´s immigration message has become increasingly acceptable over the last few years, mainly due it seems to the campaigning successes of Cymuned, who have grown substantially in strength and numbers. Welsh language community issues can no longer be ignored if the Welsh language is to be rebuilt in the Fro Gymraeg/Welsh speaking heartlands. A healthy Welsh language is inextricably linked to the community and the allocation of housing, emigration/immigration and employment are aspects of community life that need to be continually monitored in the Fro Gymraeg, if Welsh is to remain a community speech language in the future.
It is therefore necessary to create a sustainable community life to prevent young Welsh speaking people from moving away and this means attracting economic investment to the Fro Gymraeg areas. In her article, Ms Huws suggests that the creation of a Welsh Údarás na Gaeltachta, which attracts inward investment to the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) areas in Ireland, is needed. This is a sensible suggestion, but is one that is currently absent from the political agenda of all of the main political parties in Wales.
Unfortunately, it is likely that the creation of any sort of protected Welsh speaking heartland in Wales will not reach the political manifestos of the main parties for some time yet. What is likely however, that without further devolution or the exponential rise of Cymuned throughout the whole of Wales, the Fro Gymraeg debate will not be discussed in the National Assembly at all.
So with Election Day looming, who among the main parties are closer to the issues that Ms Huws raises in her article, from a cursory glance of their election promises?
Plaid Cymru
In response to Ms Meri Huws comments Plaid Leader, Ieuan Wyn Jones, said:
"There is growing agreement on increasing Welsh language education provision, further Welsh language legislation and reforming housing planning processes."
Plaid lists ten pieces of legislation that they introduce if they successfully form a Government after tomorrows elections. Among the proposals are new Welsh language legislation and new housing legislation to extend social housing powers.
Liberal Democrats
In response to Ms Meri Huws comments, the Liberal Democrats said that they would aim to "develop and expand language action areas to help reverse the trend towards de-population and ensure a welcome and integration for those moving into Welsh-speaking communities."
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have a one minute manifesto that says they support Home Rule for Wales, but lacks any mention of the Welsh language or developing housing allocation.
Conservatives
In response to Ms Meri Huws comments, the Welsh Conservative Leader Nick Bourne said that "a lot of English speaking people moving into Welsh speaking areas have ensured that their children learn Welsh."
The Welsh Conservatives manifesto for the May 2007 elections details a commitment to Welsh language medium education and lifelong learning (the "safe" language issues that Huws draws attention to in her article). They also promise to develop a housing strategy were they to form a Government, ensuring adequate affordable housing to protect Welsh communities and to establish a new form of housing cooperative "for people with a common interest to provide social housing for themselves." They also promise to create a "more bilingual Wales" and to create an office of "Language Commissioner". No summary of the Welsh Conservative Manifesto is available. This said, there is very little opportunity on their site to read the text in Welsh. Does this show their true commitment to the language?
Labour
In response to Ms Meri Huws comments, Labour said that their view "is that there is no sustainable future for the Welsh language if it simply retreats to some mythical heartland."
The introduction of the Welsh Labour Manifesto by First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, states that Labour is committed to creating "safe, secure and prosperous communities in all parts of Wales." They talk about housing and regeneration, but don't mix the Welsh language up with community life. There is very little about the Welsh language in fact and what there is comes under the heading "Culture and Sport". They nevertheless do talk about Welsh medium education (a "safe" issue).
Whoever succeeds in forming a Government in Wales after tomorrow, Ms Meri Huws opinions – who incidentally was appointed to her job by the Welsh Assembly Government - will have to be addressed at some stage. All parties express a commitment to the Welsh language to varying degrees, but not one party talks about the issues that Ms Huws raises directly. What is certain is that the opinions she expresses will arise more frequently in the future and what is only opinion today will surely become legislation tomorrow. The question is, will it be too late for the survival of the Welsh as a community speech language?
(This report for Celtic News compiled by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, Secretary General.)
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
03/05/07
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