Welsh Language Scheme

Dear Mr Simpson,

Please see the attached letter.

Kind regards

Sue Blaney

Defence Business Improvement Division, External Relations Unit 5

Ministry of Defence | Level 6 Zone I Desk 53 | MOD Main Building |
Whitehall | London | SW1A 2HB

Tel. 020 7218 0461 | E-mail: [1][email address] | DII: DGMO
DOMD-Devolution2

References

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Dear Mr Simpson,

REQUESTS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

With reference to the letter of 30 March 2009, your correspondence dated 6
March 2009 has been considered to be a request for information in
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

You requested the following information:

a. The total cost of the "Welsh Language scheme" to the Ministry of
Defence (including staffing, training, making signs compliant, printing
everything twice etc) for each year since its introduction or as much data
on the costs as possible (even if its just estimates)?

b. Details of any research collected by the MOD that looks into the use of
the Welsh language in its services (covering things like how many who join
the armed forces in Wales do so using Welsh rather than English during the
recruitment process)?

c. Any document or guide given to those who join the Armed Forces in Wales
about use of the Welsh language and when it should or should not be used
like in overseas operations?

I will deal with each of your questions in turn.

The total cost of the Welsh Language Scheme

Although the working language of the MOD is English, the department has a
legal requirement to prepare and implement a Welsh Language Scheme for its
dealings with any Welsh-speaking members of the public, should they wish
to communicate with the Department in Welsh.  The Welsh Language Act 1993
lays down a clear approach by which the principle of equality between
English and Welsh should be fulfilled by public organisations.  Public
bodies have a duty not only to observe the Act, but also to prepare a
Welsh Language Scheme outlining the measures they propose to take to
achieve these standards of equality, if requested by the Welsh Language
Board.  Although Government departments are not subject to this provision
in the Welsh Language Act 1993, the Government of the day gave an
undertaking that Civil Service departments would prepare Welsh Language
Schemes as appropriate.  The MOD's Welsh Language Scheme is, therefore, a
statutory document prepared under the Welsh Language Act 1993.

The MOD has, of course, taken into account budgetary and resource
limitations in drawing up the measures set out in its Welsh Language
Scheme, the original version of which came into being on 15 June 1999. 
Compliance is monitored primarily by the External Relations Unit within
the MOD and also by the Welsh Language Board.

Although the total cost of the Scheme is not available, the External
Relations Unit spent £2146 during the last two financial years on
translations from English into Welsh or vice versa.

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Financial Year    |Total Costs |
|----------------------------------------+-------------------------------|
|2008/2009 | £2111|
|----------------------------------------+-------------------------------|
|2007/2008 | £35|
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

The revision of our Scheme caused the significant increase in translation
costs for the last financial year, due to the need to translate the
revised Scheme, the public consultation document and the formal MOD
response to comments received from members of the public about the revised
Scheme.  Costs are dependant upon how much correspondence in Welsh is
received by the Unit.

Since the start of the original Scheme, individual MOD budgetary areas
have been responsible for funding the costs of compliance with the Welsh
Language Scheme from within their existing funds.  The cost of collating
this data would exceed the limit for answering an FOI request.  I can
say, however, that from information readily available the Department spent
in FY 08/09 £8991 on signage and between FYs 06/07 and 08/09 £281 on
translation costs.  I cannot identify another approach to your question
which would provide additional information on this subject within the
appropriate cost limit covered at section 12 of the FOI Act 2000, but I
would be happy to discuss possible alternatives if you wish.

Details of any research collected by the MOD that looks into the use of
the Welsh language in its services (covering things like how many who join
the armed forces in Wales do so using Welsh rather than English during the
recruitment process)?

The Department has not conducted any research into the use of Welsh in our
services.  The working language of the MOD is English and fluency in
English is required for all Service and Civilian posts.  Service
recruiting staffs working in Wales are chosen for their recruiting ability
and experience of Service life, although some of them may happen to be
Welsh speakers, just as some may be fluent in other languages besides
English.  Army recruiters who speak Welsh do chat in Welsh to those who
wish to do so, but the formal recruitment interview is carried out in
English.

Is there any document or guide given to those who join the Armed Forces in
Wales about use of the Welsh language and when it should or should not be
used like in overseas operations?

No.  The working language of the MOD and the Armed Forces is English. 
There may, however, be instances when Welsh speakers do communicate with
each other in Welsh during the course of their duties.

If you are unhappy with this response or you wish to complain about any
aspect of the handling of your request, then you should contact me in the
first instance.  If informal resolution is not possible and you are still
dissatisfied then you may apply for an independent internal review by
contacting the Director of Information Exploitation, 6th Floor, MOD Main
Building, Whitehall, SW1A 2HB (e-mail [1][email address]).  Please note
that any request for an internal review must be made within 40 working
days of the date on which the attempt to reach informal resolution has
come to an end.

If you remain unhappy following an internal review, you may take your
complaint to the Information Commissioner under the provisions of Section
50 of the Freedom of Information Act.  Please note that the Information
Commissioner will not investigate the case until the internal review
process has been completed.  Further details of the role and powers of
the Information Commissioner can be found on the Commissioner's website,
[2]http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.

Mark Bailey

Mark Bailey | Defence Business Improvement Division, External Relations
Unit 1
Ministry of Defence | Level 6, Zone I, Desk 46 | MOD Main Building |
Whitehall | London | SW1A 2HB
020 7218 9181 | [3][email address] | DII: DBI-ERU1

References

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2. http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/
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