IAR-002812

1) Has there been a budget for 2009/10 to promote the language

2) Does the Council provide support for schools wishing to promote the language?

3) Is the Council able and willing to accept communications in the Cornish Language?

In 2009/10 there has been a budget made available by Cornwall Council and by the UK government totalling £170,000. Cornwall Council contributes £20,000 and the Department for Communities and Local Government £150,000 in recognition of the government's responsibilities under the Charter.  This is part of a two year agreement extending until March 2011 when it will be re-negotiated.  The funding will be spent across the two years, not necessarily pro-rata. The budget includes provision for staffing for the Cornish Language Partnership which carries out the work and which is hosted and led by Cornwall Council.

2.  The Partnership works actively with schools and has recently appointed an Education officer post to develop the work further. Support for schools wishing to use Cornish is within the Partnership provision at present, and the Partnership works closely with Advisers and other central education staff.   

3.  The Council has accepted communications in the Cornish language. The Partnership provides the in-house expertise to translate any such correspondence as required.

Finally, the provisions in Part II of the Charter are largely advisory and do not lay down any specific levels of support. The Government and the Council have, however, responded positively to the guidance.  In November the Council adopted a policy on the Cornish language which encourages every department to consider of Cornish where appropriate and also agreed a policy for bilingual signage.

Response provided by the Chief Executives Department