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The Welsh Language Standards (No. 4) Regulations 2016

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Regulation 2(1)

SCHEDULE 1Service delivery standards

PART 1THE STANDARDS

1

Standards relating to correspondence sent by a body

(1) When a body replies to correspondence

Standard 1:

If you receive correspondence from a person in Welsh you must reply in Welsh (if an answer is required), unless the person has indicated that there is no need to reply in Welsh.

(2) When a body initiates correspondence

(a) When a body corresponds with an individual

Standard 2:

When you correspond with an individual (“A”) for the first time, you must ask A whether A wishes to receive correspondence from you in Welsh, and if A responds to say that A wishes to receive correspondence in Welsh you must—

(a)keep a record of A’s wish,

(b)correspond with A in Welsh when corresponding with A from then onwards, and

(c)send any forms you send to A from then onwards in Welsh.

(b) When a body corresponds with more than one member of the same household

Standard 3:

When you send correspondence addressed to two individuals who are members of the same household (for example, the parents of a child) for the first time, you must ask them whether they wish to receive correspondence from you in Welsh; and if —

(a)both individuals respond to say that they wish to receive correspondence in Welsh, you must keep a record of that wish and correspond in Welsh from then onwards when sending correspondence addressed to both of those individuals;

(b)one (but not both) of the individuals responds to say that he or she wishes to receive correspondence in Welsh, you must keep a record of that wish and provide a Welsh language version of correspondence from then onwards when sending correspondence addressed to both of those individuals.

(c) When a body corresponds with several persons (for example, when it sends a circular, or sends the same letter to a number of homes)

Standard 4:

When you send the same correspondence to several persons, you must send a Welsh language version of the correspondence at the same time as you send any English language version.

(3) General standards relating to correspondence

Standard 5:

If you don’t know whether a person wishes to receive correspondence from you in Welsh, when you correspond with that person you must provide a Welsh language version of the correspondence.

Standard 6:

If you produce a Welsh language version and a corresponding English language version of correspondence, you must not treat the Welsh language version less favourably than the English language version (for example, if the English version is signed, or if contact details are provided on the English version, then the Welsh version must be treated in the same way).

Standard 7:

You must state —

(a)in correspondence, and

(b)in publications and notices that invite persons to respond to you or to correspond with you,

that you welcome receiving correspondence in Welsh, that you will respond to correspondence in Welsh, and that corresponding in Welsh will not lead to delay.

2

Standards relating to telephone calls made and received by a body

(1) Telephone calls made to a body’s main contact number and to any helplines or call centres

Standard 8:

When a person contacts you on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must greet the person in Welsh.

Standard 9:

When a person contacts you on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must inform the person that a Welsh language service is available.

Standard 10:

When a person contacts you on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must deal with the call in Welsh in its entirety if that is the person’s wish (where necessary by transferring the call to a member of staff who is able to deal with the call in Welsh).

Standard 11:

When a person contacts you on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must deal with the call in Welsh if that is the person’s wish until such point as —

(a)it is necessary to transfer the call to a member of staff who does not speak Welsh who can provide a service on a specific subject matter; and

(b)no Welsh speaking member of staff is available to provide a service on that specific subject matter.

Standard 12:

When you advertise telephone numbers, helpline numbers or call centre services, you must not treat the Welsh language less favourably than the English language.

Standard 13:

If you offer a Welsh language service on your main telephone number (or numbers), on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, the telephone number for the Welsh language service must be the same as for the corresponding English language service.

Standard 14:

When you publish your main telephone number, or any helpline numbers or call centre service numbers, you must state (in Welsh) that you welcome calls in Welsh.

Standard 15:

If you have performance indicators for dealing with telephone calls, you must ensure that those performance indicators do not treat telephone calls made in Welsh any less favourably than calls made in English.

Standard 16:

Your main telephone call answering service (or services) must inform persons calling, in Welsh, that they can leave a message in Welsh.

Standard 17:

When there is no Welsh language service available on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must inform persons calling in Welsh (by way of an automated message or otherwise), when a Welsh language service will be available.

(2) Telephone calls made to departments and to members of a body’s staff

Standard 18:

If a person contacts one of your departments on a direct line telephone number (including on staff members’ direct line numbers), and that person wishes to receive a service in Welsh, you must deal with the call in Welsh in its entirety (if necessary by transferring the call to a member of staff who is able to deal with the call in Welsh).

Standard 19:

If a person contacts one of your departments on a direct line telephone number (including on staff members’ direct line numbers), and that person wishes to receive a service in Welsh, you must deal with the call in Welsh until such point as —

(a)it is necessary to transfer the call to a member of staff who does not speak Welsh who can provide a service on a specific subject matter; and

(b)no Welsh speaking member of staff is available to provide a service on that specific subject matter.

Standard 20:

When a person contacts you on a direct line number (whether on a department’s direct line number or on the direct line number of a member of staff), you must ensure that, when greeting the person, the Welsh language is not treated less favourably than the English language.

(3) Telephone calls made by a body

Standard 21:

When you telephone an individual (“A”) for the first time you must ask A whether A wishes to receive telephone calls from you in Welsh, and if A responds to say that A wishes to receive telephone calls in Welsh you must keep a record of that wish, and conduct telephone calls made to A from then onwards in Welsh.

(4) A body dealing with telephone calls using an automated system

Standard 22:

Any automated telephone systems that you have must provide the complete automated service in Welsh.

3

Standards relating to a body holding meetings that are not open to the general public

(1) Meetings between a body and one other invited person

Standard 23:

If you invite one person only (“P”) to a meeting, you must offer to conduct the meeting in Welsh; and if P informs you that P wishes for the meeting to be conducted in Welsh, you must conduct the meeting in Welsh (without the assistance of a simultaneous or consecutive translation service).

Standard 24:

If you invite one person only (“P”) to a meeting you must ask P whether P wishes to use the Welsh language at the meeting, and inform P that you will, if necessary, provide a translation service from Welsh to English for that purpose.

Standard 24A:

If you have invited one person only (“P”) to a meeting and P has informed you that P wishes to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting (unless you conduct the meeting in Welsh without the assistance of a translation service).

Standard 24B:

If you have invited one person only (“P”) to a meeting and P has informed you that P wishes to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a consecutive translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting (unless you conduct the meeting in Welsh without the assistance of a translation service).

(2) Meetings between a body and more than one invited person

Standard 25:

If you invite more than one person to a meeting, you must ask each person whether they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting.

Standard 25A:

If you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and at least 10% (but less than 100%) of the persons invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting.

Standard 25B:

If you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and at least 20% (but less than 100%) of the persons invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting.

Standard 25C:

If you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and at least 30% (but less than 100%) of the persons invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting.

Standard 25CH:

If you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and all of the persons invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must conduct the meeting in Welsh (without the assistance of a simultaneous or consecutive translation service).

Standard 25D:

If you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and all of the persons invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting (unless you conduct the meeting in Welsh without the assistance of a translation service).

4

Standards relating to meetings arranged by a body that are open to the public

Standard 26:

If you arrange a meeting that is open to the public you must state on any material advertising it, and on any invitation to it, that anyone attending is welcome to use the Welsh language at the meeting.

Standard 27:

When you send invitations to a meeting that you arrange which is open to the public, you must send the invitations in Welsh.

Standard 28:

If you invite persons to speak at a meeting that you arrange which is open to the public you must —

(a)ask each person invited to speak whether he or she wishes to use the Welsh language, and

(b)if that person (or at least one of those persons) has informed you that he or she wishes to use the Welsh language at the meeting, provide a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English for that purpose (unless you conduct the meeting in Welsh without a translation service).

Standard 29:

If you arrange a meeting that is open to the public, you must ensure that a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English is available at the meeting, and you must orally inform those present in Welsh —

(a)that they are welcome to use the Welsh language, and

(b)that a simultaneous translation service is available.

Standard 30:

If you display any written material at a meeting that you arrange which is open to the public, you must ensure that the material is displayed in Welsh, and you must not treat any Welsh language text less favourably than the English language text.

5

Standards relating to public events organised or funded by a body

Standard 31:

If you organise a public event, or fund at least 50% of a public event, you must ensure that, in promoting the event, the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language (for example, in the way the event is advertised or publicised).

Standard 32:

If you organise a public event, or fund at least 50% of a public event, you must ensure that the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language at the event (for example, in relation to services offered to persons attending the event, in relation to signs displayed at the event and in relation to audio announcements made at the event).

6

Standard relating to a body’s publicity and advertising

Standard 33:

Any publicity or advertising material that you produce must be produced in Welsh, and if you produce the material in Welsh and in English, you must not treat the Welsh language version less favourably than you treat the English language version.

7

Standards relating to a body displaying material in public

Standard 34:

Any material that you display in public must be displayed in Welsh, and you must not treat any Welsh language version of the material less favourably than the English language version.

Standard 35:

Any material that you display at a public exhibition organised by you must be displayed in Welsh, and you must not treat any Welsh language version of the material less favourably than you treat an English language version.

8

Standards relating to a body producing and publishing documents

Standard 36:

Any documents that you produce for public use must be produced in Welsh.

Standard 37:

If you produce agendas, minutes and other papers for meetings, conferences or seminars that are open to the public, you must produce them in Welsh.

Standard 38:

Any licence, permit or certificate you produce must be produced in Welsh.

Standard 39:

Any brochure, leaflet, pamphlet or card that you produce in order to provide information to the public must be produced in Welsh.

Standard 40:

If you produce the following documents, and they are available to the public, you must produce them in Welsh —

(a)policies, strategies, annual reports and corporate plans;

(b)guidelines and codes of practice;

(c)consultation papers.

Standard 41:

Any rules that you publish that apply to the public must be published in Welsh.

Standard 42:

When you issue any statement to the press you must issue it in Welsh and, if there is a Welsh language version and an English language version of a statement, you must issue both versions at the same time.

Standard 43:

If you produce a document which is available to the public, and no other standard has required you to produce the document in Welsh, you must produce it in Welsh —

(a)if the subject matter of the document suggests that it should be produced in Welsh, or

(b)if the anticipated audience, and their expectations, suggests that the document should be produced in Welsh.

Standard 44:

If you produce a document in Welsh and in English (whether separate versions or not), you must not treat any Welsh language version less favourably than you treat the English language version.

Standard 45:

If you produce a Welsh language version and a separate English language version of a document, you must ensure that the English language version clearly states that the document is also available in Welsh.

9

Standards relating to a body producing and publishing forms

Standard 46:

Any form that you make available to the public must be produced in Welsh.

Standard 46A:

If you produce a Welsh language version and a separate English language version of a form, you must ensure that the English language version clearly states that the form is also available in Welsh.

Standard 46B:

If you produce a form in Welsh and in English (whether separate versions or not), you must ensure that the Welsh language version is treated no less favourably than the English language version, and you must not differentiate between the Welsh and English versions in relation to any requirements that are relevant to the form (for example in relation to any deadline for submitting the form, or in relation to the time allowed to respond to the content of the form).

Standard 47:

If you pre-enter information on a Welsh language version of a form (for example, before sending it to a member of the public in order for him or her to check the content or to fill in the remainder of the form), you must ensure that the information that you pre-enter is in Welsh.

10

Standards relating to legal proceedings

Standard 48:

You must state in publications, guidance and notices that you produce informing persons about legal proceedings that they may submit forms and documents and make written representations to you in Welsh.

Standard 49:

Where a person contacts you to commence or respond to legal proceedings, you must ask the person to indicate whether the person wishes to speak in Welsh in any legal proceedings(1).

Standard 50:

Where a person (“P”) contacts you for the first time to commence or respond to legal proceedings, you must ask P to indicate whether P wishes to receive copies in Welsh of forms and documents that you produce and which are to be available to P (including, for example, written determinations or orders in relation to those legal proceedings).

Standard 50A:

Where a person (“P”) contacts you to commence or respond to legal proceedings, and P indicates that they wish to receive copies in Welsh of forms and documents that you produce and which are to be made available to P, you—

(a)must provide such forms and documents in Welsh in relation to those legal proceedings, and

(b)must not treat the production of them less favourably than forms and documents you produce in English.

Standard 51:

Where you receive forms or documents in Welsh from a person (“P”) commencing or responding to legal proceedings, you must not treat those forms or documents less favourably than ones that you receive in English (including amongst other matters, in relation to the timescale for receiving such forms and documents and informing P of decisions).

11

Standards relating to a body’s websites and on-line services

(1) Websites published by a body

Standard 52:

You must ensure that —

(a)the text of each page of your website is available in Welsh,

(b)every Welsh language page on your website is fully functional, and

(c)the Welsh language is not treated less favourably than the English language on your website.

Standard 53:

You must ensure that —

(a)the text of the homepage of your website is available in Welsh,

(b)any Welsh language text on your homepage (or, where relevant, your Welsh language homepage) is fully functional, and

(c)the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language in relation to the homepage of your website.

Standard 54:

You must ensure that when you publish a new page on your website or amend a page —

(a)the text of that page is available in Welsh,

(b)any Welsh language version of that page is fully functional, and

(c)the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language in relation to that page.

Standard 55:

If you have a Welsh language web page that corresponds to an English language web page, you must state clearly on the English language web page that the page is also available in Welsh, and you must provide a direct link to the Welsh page on the corresponding English page.

Standard 56:

You must provide the interface and menus on every page of your website in Welsh.

(2) Apps published by a body

Standard 57:

All apps that you publish must function fully in Welsh, and the Welsh language must be treated no less favourably than the English language in relation to that app.

12

Standards relating to a body’s use of social media

Standard 58:

When you use social media you must not treat the Welsh language less favourably than the English language.

Standard 59:

If a person contacts you by social media in Welsh, you must reply in Welsh (if an answer is required).

13

Standard relating to self service machines

Standard 60:

You must ensure that any self service machines that you have function fully in Welsh, and the Welsh language must be treated no less favourably than the English language in relation to that machine.

14

Standards relating to signs displayed by a body

Standard 61:

When you erect a new sign or renew a sign (including temporary signs), any text displayed on the sign must be displayed in Welsh (whether on the same sign as you display corresponding English language text or on a separate sign); and if the same text is displayed in Welsh and in English, you must not treat the Welsh language text less favourably than the English language text.

Standard 62:

When you erect a new sign or renew a sign (including temporary signs) which conveys the same information in Welsh and in English, the Welsh-language text must be positioned so that it is likely to be read first.

Standard 63:

You must ensure that the Welsh language text on signs is accurate in terms of meaning and expression.

15

Standards relating to a body receiving visitors at its buildings

Standard 64:

Any reception service you make available in English must also be available in Welsh, and any person who requires a Welsh language reception service must not be treated less favourably than a person who requires an English language reception service.

Standard 65:

If you arrange a visit or appointment in advance for a person (“P”) which will mean that P will come to your reception, you must ask P whether P wishes to receive a Welsh language reception service (unless you already know whether P wishes to receive that service in Welsh).

Standard 65A:

You must provide a face to face Welsh language reception service for a person (“P”) at your reception if you have arranged a visit or appointment for P in advance and —

(a)P has informed you in advance that P wishes to receive the service in Welsh, or

(b)you are already aware that P wishes to receive the service in Welsh.

Standard 66:

If you have no face to face Welsh language reception service available, you must ensure that a Welsh language reception service is available over a phone in your reception.

Standard 67:

You must display a sign in your reception which states (in Welsh) that persons are welcome to use the Welsh language at the reception.

Standard 68:

You must ensure that staff at the reception who are able to provide a Welsh language reception service wear a badge to convey that.

16

Standards relating to notices made by a body

Standard 69:

Any notice that you publish or display must be published or displayed in Welsh, and you must not treat any Welsh language version of a notice less favourably than an English language version.

Standard 70:

When you publish or display a notice that contains Welsh language text as well as English language text, the Welsh language text must be positioned so that it is likely to be read first.

17

Standards relating to a body awarding contracts

Standard 71:

Any invitations to tender for a contract that you publish must be published in Welsh, and you must not treat a Welsh language version of any invitation less favourably than an English language version.

Standard 72:

When you publish invitations to tender for a contract, you must state in the invitation that tenders may be submitted in Welsh, and that a tender submitted in Welsh will be treated no less favourably than a tender submitted in English.

Standard 72A:

You must not treat a tender for a contract submitted in Welsh less favourably than a tender submitted in English (including, amongst other matters, in relation to the closing date for receiving tenders, and in relation to the timescale for informing tenderers of decisions).

Standard 73:

If you receive a tender in Welsh and it is necessary to interview a tenderer as part of your assessment of the tender, you must offer to conduct that interview in Welsh and, if the tenderer so wishes, you must conduct the interview in Welsh (without the assistance of a simultaneous or consecutive translation service).

Standard 74:

If you receive a tender in Welsh and it is necessary to interview the tenderer as part of your assessment of the tender you must —

(a)offer to provide a translation service from Welsh to English to enable the tenderer to use the Welsh language at the interview, and

(b)if the tenderer wishes to use the Welsh language at the interview, provide a simultaneous translation service for that purpose (unless you conduct the interview in Welsh without a translation service).

Standard 75:

When you inform a tenderer of your decision in relation to a tender, you must do so in Welsh if the tender was submitted in Welsh.

18

Standards for raising awareness about Welsh language services provided by a body

Standard 76:

You must promote any Welsh language service that you provide, and advertise that service in Welsh.

Standard 77:

If you provide a service in Welsh that corresponds to a service you provide in English, any publicity or document that you produce, or website that you publish, which refers to the English service must also state that a corresponding service is available in Welsh.

19

Standard relating to a body’s corporate identity

Standard 78:

When you form, revise or present your corporate identity, you must not treat the Welsh language less favourably than the English language.

20

Standards relating to courses offered by a body

Standard 79:

If you offer an education course that is open to the public, you must offer it in Welsh.

Standard 80:

If you offer an education course that is open to the public and which is aimed specifically at persons aged 18 or under, you must offer it in Welsh.

Standard 81:

If you develop an education course that is to be offered to the public, you must assess the need for that course to be offered in Welsh; and you must ensure that the assessment is published on your website.

21

Standard relating to public address systems used by a body

Standard 82:

When you announce a message over a public address system, you must make that announcement in Welsh and, if the announcement is made in Welsh and in English, the announcement must be made in Welsh first.

PART 2STANDARDS THAT ARE RELIANT ON OTHER STANDARDS – SPECIAL CONDITIONS

22

When a compliance notice requires a body to comply with one of the standards listed on a specific row in column 1 of Table 1, that compliance notice must also require that body to comply (in whatever way the Welsh Language Commissioner considers appropriate) with the standard or standards listed in column 2 of that row (or with one or more of those standards where that is stated).

TABLE 1

Column 1Column 2
RowMain standardReliant standard
(1)Replying to correspondence
Standard 1Standard 7
(2)Corresponding with members of the same household
Standard 3Standard 6
(3)Corresponding with several persons
Standard 4

Standard 6

Standard 7

(4)General standards relating to correspondence
Standard 5

Standard 6

Standard 7

(5)Raising awareness about corresponding in Welsh
Standard 7Standard 1
(6)

Receiving telephone calls

Standard 9

One or more of the following:

Standard 10

Standard 11

(7)Receiving telephone calls
Standard 10 or 11

Standard 9

Standard 14

(8)Raising awareness about telephone services in Welsh

Standard 14

One or more of the following:

Standard 10

Standard 11

and also

Standard 16, and

Standard 17

(9)Meetings with one person

Standard 24

One or more of the following:

Standard 24A

Standard 24B

(10)Meetings with one person
Standard 24A or 24BStandard 24
(11)Meetings with more than one person

Standard 25

One or more of the following:

Standard 25A

Standard 25B

Standard 25C

and also one of more of the following;

Standard 25CH

Standard 25D

(12)Meetings with more than one person
Standard 25A, 25B, 25C, 25CH or 25DStandard 25
(13)Public meetings
Standard 26Standard 29
(14)Public meetings
Standard 29Standard 26
(15)Documents
Standard 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, or 43

Standard 44

Standard 45

(16)Forms
Standard 46

Standard 46A

Standard 46B

(17)Legal proceedings
Standard 50Standard 50A
(18)Legal proceedings
Standard 50AStandard 50
(19)Websites
Standard 52, 53 or 54Standard 55
(20)Signs
Standard 61 or 62Standard 63
(21)Reception
Standard 64

Standard 67

Standard 68

(22)Reception
Standard 65Standard 65A
(23)Reception
Standard 66Standard 67
(24)Raising awareness of Welsh-language services in a reception

Standard 67

One or more of the following:

Standard 64

Standard 66

(25)Contracts
Standard 72

Standard 72A

Standard 75

(26)Contracts
Standard 73 or 74

Standard 72

Standard 72A

PART 3INTERPRETING THE STANDARDS

23

The standards specified in Part 1 of this Schedule must be interpreted as follows.

24

The standards only apply to the extent that a body —

(a)delivers services to a person, or

(b)deals with any other person in connection with delivering services—

(i)to that other person, or

(ii)to a third person.

25

A body is not required to produce, to display or to send material in Welsh to the extent that another enactment has specified the wording of a document, a sign or a form which would run contrary to that requirement.

26

For the purposes of the standards —

(a)a requirement to produce, to send, to publish, to display, to make available or to issue any written material in Welsh does not mean that the material should be produced, sent, published, displayed, made available or issued in Welsh only, nor does it mean that the material should be produced in Welsh first (unless that is specifically stated in the standard);

(b)a requirement to provide a service in Welsh does not mean that that service should only be provided in Welsh (unless that is specifically stated in the standard).

27

(1) A body is not required to translate into Welsh any text that it has not produced (“text A”).

(2) A body will not be treating the Welsh language less favourably if it does not translate text A into Welsh but see sub-paragraph (3).

(3) A body must use the Welsh version of text A if another person has produced text A in Welsh in accordance with —

(a)its Welsh Language Scheme;

(b)a duty to comply with standards;

(c)Standing Orders of the Assembly;

(ch)section 35(1C) of the 2006 Act; or

(d)the Assembly Commission’s Official Languages Scheme.

(4) In this paragraph—

(a)“Welsh Language Scheme” means a Welsh language scheme produced in accordance with Part 2 of the Welsh Language Act 1993(2);

(b)“a duty to comply with standards” means a duty to comply with a standard under section 25 of the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011;

(c)“the 2006 Act” means the Government of Wales Act 2006(3);

(ch)“Standing Orders of the Assembly” means standing orders made under section 31 of the 2006 Act;

(d)“the Assembly Commission’s Official Languages Scheme” means the Scheme adopted and published under paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 to the 2006 Act.

28

For the purposes of the standards, “meetings” do not include legal proceedings.

29

For the purposes of standards 2, 3, 21, 49 and 50, a body contacts, corresponds with an individual or makes a telephone call to an individual for the first time when it contacts, corresponds or makes a telephone call for the first time after the date on which a compliance notice has required the body to comply with the standard.

30

In standard 22 an “automated” telephone system means a system that answers telephone calls and guides persons through a set procedure with a recorded message which, for example, asks a person to press different keys in order to choose different options.

31

Standard 32 does not apply to—

(a)performances of music;

(b)artistic or dramatic productions;

(c)seminars or oral presentations relating to the performance or production;

(ch)any recording of the performance, production, seminar or oral presentation.

32

Standards 32 and 82 do not apply when the message that you announce over a public address system is made during an emergency or an emergency drill.

33

Where a standard refers to material that is to be produced in Welsh (with the exception of standards 52 to 57 (websites and apps), 58 and 59 (social media) and 71 (invitations to tender)), references to treating the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language, or to treating a Welsh language version no less favourably than an English language version, include, amongst other matters (and in addition to specific matters referred to in any individual standard), treating the Welsh language no less favourably as regards —

(a)the visual presentation of material (for example in relation to the colour or font of any text);

(b)the size of the material;

(c)the position and prominence of the material in any public place;

(ch)when and how the material is published, provided or exhibited;

(d)the publication format of material.

34

For the purposes of standards 36, 40, 43 and 46, references to documents or other materials being available to the public or being produced for public use do not include documents or materials that are only available to the public by virtue of the Freedom of Information Act 2000(4).

35

(1) Standards 46, 46A and 46B do not apply to the forms listed in sub-paragraph (3).

(2) For the purposes of standard 2, a body is not required to send a Welsh language version of the forms listed in sub-paragraph (3).

(3) The forms are —

(a)forms used by a body to recruit employees (see standards 132A, 133, and 134 in relation to recruitment);

(b)forms used when submitting a tender to enter into a contract with a body (see standards 71 to 75 in relation to tendering for a contract).

36

Standards 36, 41, 43, 44 and 45 do not apply to an enactment made by a body or to a draft enactment prepared by a body.

37

Standards 36, 39, 40 and 43 do not apply to any advertising material contained in a document, brochure, leaflet, pamphlet or card.

38

Standard 41 does not apply to rules specified in an enactment or in a draft enactment prepared by a body.

39

Standards 52 to 56 (websites) do not apply to —

(a)documents to which a link is provided on a website, advertising material on a website, or to video and audio clips on a website (see standards 36 to 45 for specific provision in relation to documents, and standard 33 in relation to advertising material produced by a body);

(b)information presented by persons (other than the body) on an interactive page published on a body’s website (for example on a section for comments or on a discussion forum).

40

(1) For the purpose of standard 57 an ‘app’ is a software application designed to undertake a specific task on an electronic device.

(2) Standard 57 does not apply to any advertising material on an app (see standard 33 in relation to advertising material produced by a body).

41

For the purpose of standards 52 to 57 (websites and apps) and standards 58 and 59 (social media), references to treating the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language include, amongst other matters (and in addition to specific matters referred to in any individual standard), treating the Welsh language no less favourably as regards —

(a)the visual presentation of the material (for example in relation to the colour, size, font and format of any text), or

(b)when material is published on the website, app or social media;

but it does not mean that Welsh language material must appear on the same page as English language material, or on a page that a person is likely to find before the English language page when searching.

42

(1) Standards 1 to 7 (correspondence) do not apply to correspondence sent by social media (see standards 58 and 59 in relation to social media).

(2) Standards 52 to 57 (websites and apps) do not apply to social media (see standards 58 and 59 in relation to social media).

43

Standards 58 and 59 (social media) do not apply to —

(a)documents to which a link is provided through social media, or to video and audio clips provided through social media (see standards 36 to 45 for specific provision in relation to documents, and standard 33 in relation to advertising material produced by a body);

(b)information presented by persons (other than the body) on a body’s social media account (for example on a section for comments).

44

For the purpose of standard 60 (self service machines) reference to treating the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language includes, amongst other matters, treating the Welsh language no less favourably as regards the visual presentation of the material (for example in relation to the colour, size, font and format of any text), but it does not mean that Welsh language material must appear on screen at the same time as English language material.

45

For the purposes of standards 64 to 68 (receiving visitors) —

(a)“reception” means an area in a body’s offices where staff are made available for the purpose of welcoming persons;

(b)“reception service” means a service for welcoming persons to the body’s offices or service locations by staff who are made available for that purpose.

46

For the purposes of standards 7, 69 and 70 a “notice” means any notice that a body publishes, but it does not include notices prescribed by an enactment.

47

For the purposes of standard 71 (invitation to tender) —

(1) A body is not required to publish an invitation to tender in Welsh in the Official Journal of the European Union.

(2) A reference to treating a Welsh language version no less favourably than an English language version includes, amongst other matters, treating the Welsh language no less favourably as regards—

(a)the visual presentation of material (for example in relation to the colour or font of any text);

(b)the size of the material;

(c)the position and prominence of the material in any public place;

(ch)when and how the material is published, provided or exhibited;

(d)the publication format of material;

but a body will not be treating the Welsh language less favourably than the English language by not publishing an invitation to tender in Welsh in the Official Journal of the European Union.

48

(1) For the purposes of standard 78, the reference to a body forming or presenting its “corporate identity” includes, amongst other things, the way a body presents itself by means of visual statements, the name or names used by a body, and a body’s branding and slogans (for example, branding and slogans printed on its stationery).

(2) Standard 78 does not apply to the extent that an enactment requires a body to use a legal name.

49

For the purposes of standards 79, 80 and 81 (courses), an “education course” means any seminar, training, workshop or similar provision which is provided in order to educate or to improve the skills of members of the public; but does not include—

(a)activities or courses provided as part of the curriculum in accordance with any enactment; or

(b)seminars or oral presentations relating to a performance or production.

50

For the purposes of the standards “enactment” means an enactment (whenever enacted or made) comprised in, or in an instrument made under —

(a)an Act of Parliament; or

(b)a Measure or an Act of the National Assembly for Wales.

(1)

Section 22 of the Welsh Language Act 1993 (c.38) makes provision about speaking Welsh in legal proceedings.

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