Welsh Language Act 1993
1993 c. 38I1C1C2 An Act to establish a Board having the function of promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language, to provide for the preparation by public bodies of schemes giving effect to the principle that in the conduct of public business and the administration of justice in Wales the English and Welsh languages should be treated on a basis of equality, to make further provision relating to the Welsh language, to repeal certain spent enactments relating to Wales, and for connected purposes.
Enacted[21st October 1993]
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C5
Part I THE BOARD¶
F251 Establishment of the Board.¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F262 Membership of the Board.¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F35C7C6C113 Functions of the Board.¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Supplementary provisions about the Board.¶
C8C10Part II WELSH LANGUAGE SCHEME¶
Duty to prepare schemes¶
5 Duty of notified public bodies to prepare schemes.¶
E16 Meaning of “public body”.¶
7 Notices to public bodies.¶
8 Objections to time limits for submitting schemes.¶
Guidelines as to form and content of schemes¶
9 Duty to issue guidelines.¶
10 Approval of guidelines.¶
11 Revision of guidelines.¶
The Board shall at such intervals as it thinks fit revise the guidelines issued by it under section 9 above, and that section and section 10 above shall apply in relation to the revised guidelines as they apply in relation to the guidelines first issued.Preparation and approval of schemes¶
12 Preparation of schemes.¶
13 Consultation on preparation of schemes.¶
14 Approval or imposition of schemes.¶
Revision etc of schemes¶
15 Periodic revision of schemes.¶
16 Amendment of schemes.¶
Compliance with schemes¶
17 Investigations.¶
18 Complaints of non-compliance.¶
19 Reports on investigations.¶
20 Directions by Secretary of State.¶
The Crown¶
21 Persons acting on behalf of the Crown.¶
Part III MISCLLANEOUS¶
Welsh in legal proceedings¶
22 Use of Welsh in legal proceedings.¶
23 Oaths and affirmations.¶
24 Provision of interpreters.¶
Statutory names, forms etc¶
C1325 Powers to give Welsh names to statutory bodies etc.¶
C3C9C12C1426 Powers to prescribe Welsh forms.¶
27 Provisions supplementary to sections 25 and 26.¶
F3128 Industrial and provident societies.¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Credit unions.¶
Companies¶
30 Documents relating to Welsh companies.¶
F21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Publicity for limited liability status of Welsh companies.¶
In section 351 of the M5Companies Act 1985, subsections (3) and (4) (which require the status of a company whose name ends in “cwmni cyfyngedig cyhoeddus” or “cyfyngedig” to appear in English on certain documents) shall cease to have effect.Charities¶
F2332 Registered charities.¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F2333 Statement of charitable status.¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Supplementary¶
34 Notices.¶
I235 Repeals and consequential amendments.¶
36 Commencement.¶
37 Short title.¶
This Act may be cited as the Welsh Language Act 1993.SCHEDULES
F24SCHEDULE 1 ¶
THE BOARD
Section 4.
F24 Members¶
F24 Remuneration of members¶
F24 Parliamentary disqualification¶
F24 Parliamentary Commissioner¶
F24 Procedure¶
F24 Evidence¶
F24 Staff¶
F24 Status¶
F24 Expenses¶
F24 Accounts¶
F24 Annual reports¶
I3SCHEDULE 2 ¶
Repeals
Section 35.
| Chapter | Short title | Extent of repeal |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Hen. 8. c. 26. | The Laws in Wales Act 1535. | The whole Act, so far as unrepealed. |
| 34 & 35 Hen. 8. c. 26. | The Laws in Wales Act 1542. | The whole Act, so far as unrepealed, except section 47. |
| 9 & 10 Geo. 5. c. 21. | The Ministry of Health Act 1919. | Section 11(3). |
| 5 & 6 Geo. 6. c. 40. | The Welsh Courts Act 1942. | The whole Act, so far as unrepealed. |
| 1967 c. 66. | The Welsh Language Act 1967. | The whole Act, so far as unrepealed. |
| 1977 c. 38. | The Administration of Justice Act 1977. | In Schedule 2, paragraph 2. |
| 1985 c. 6. | The Companies Act 1985. | Section 21.In section 242(1) and 243(4) the words “Subject to section 255E (delivery of accounting documents in Welsh only),”.Section 255E.Section 351(3) and (4).In section 351(5), paragraph (c) and the word “and” immediately preceding it.In Schedule 9, in paragraph 7(3) of Part II, the words “Subject to section 255E (delivery of accounting documents in Welsh only),”. |
| 1985 c. 50. | The Representation of the People Act 1985. | In Schedule 4, paragraph 85(a). |
| 1993 c. 10. | The Charities Act 1993. | In sections 5(2) and 68(1), the words “in English”. |
Footnotes
- I1Act wholly in force; Act partly in force at 21.12.1993 see s.36; Act in force for specified purposes at 25.1.1994 and 1.2.1994 by S.I. 1994/115, art. 2
- C1Act: functions of the Minister of the Crown (subject to art. 2(b)-(f)) of the amending S.I.) transferred (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1
- C2Act modified (30.5.2007) by The National Assembly for Wales Commission (Crown Status) (No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1353), art. 6(1)
- E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland and Northern Ireland only
- F1Words in s. 6(1)(a) inserted (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6), Sch. 16 para. 106(1); S.I. 1995/852, art. 9(1), Sch. 5
- F2S. 6(1)(ca) inserted (23.11.1995) by 1995 c. 25, s. 78, Sch. 10 para. 37; S.I. 1995/2950, art. 2(1)
- F3Words in s. 6(1)(e) substituted (E.W.) (1.10.2004 for E. and 10.11.2004 for W.) by Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c. 21), ss. 53, 61, Sch. 1 para. 84; S.I. 2004/2304, art. 2 (subject to art. 3); S.I. 2004/2917, art. 2
- F4S. 6(1)(f) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, s. 2(1)(3), Sch. 1 Pt. III, para. 125(a)
- F5Words in s. 6(1)(f) omitted (1.4.2007) by virtue of The References to Health Authorities Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/961), arts. 1(1), 3, Sch. para. 24
- F6Words in s. 6(1)(f) substituted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), ss. 2, 7, Sch. 1 para. 164(a)(ii) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)
- F7S. 6(1)(ff) inserted (10.10.2002 for W. and 1.3.2007 for E.) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), s. 6(2), Sch. 5 para. 37; S.I. 2002/2532, art. 2; S.I. 2006/1407, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 12(c) (with art. 4)
- F8Words in s. 6(1)(ff) substituted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), ss. 2, 7, Sch. 1 para. 164(b) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)
- F9Words in s. 6(1)(g) substituted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), ss. 2, 7, Sch. 1 para. 164(c) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)
- F10S. 6(f) repealed (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 2(1), 5(1)(2), Sch. 1 Pt. III, para. 125(b), Sch. 3
- F11Words in s. 6(1)(i) substituted (20.10.2003 for W. and 1.12.2003 for E.) by Health (Wales) Act 2003 (c. 4), ss. 7, 10(2), Sch. 3 para. 7; S.I. 2003/2660, art. 2(1)(ii) (subject to art. 2(2)); S.I. 2003/3064, art. 2(1)(ii) (subject to art. 2(2))
- F12Words in s. 6(1)(i) substituted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), ss. 2, 7, Sch. 1 para. 164(d) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)
- F13S. 6(1)(ia) inserted (1.4.2005) by Health (Wales) Act 2003 (c. 4), ss. 7, 10(2), Sch. 3 para. 8; S.I. 2003/2660, art. 3(2)
- F14S. 6(1)(j) omitted (1.4.2006) by virtue of The National Council for Education and Training for Wales (Transfer of Functions to the National Assembly for Wales and Abolition) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3238), arts. 1(1), 9(1), Sch. 1 para. 29 (with transitional provision in art. 7)
- F15S. 6(1)(l) substituted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1), Sch. 30 para. 50; S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
- M11992 c. 13.
- M21988 c. 40.
- F16S. 6(1)(na) inserted (14.10.2006 for W.) by Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 30), ss. 1, 23, Sch. 1 para. 18; S.I. 2006/2699, art. 2
- F17S. 23 renumbered as s. 23(1) (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 232(2); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(v)
- F18Words in s. 23(1) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 232(3); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(v)
- F19S. 23(2) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 232(4); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(v)
- F20S. 25(3) substituted (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(2)(6), Sch. 16 para. 106(2); S.I. 1995/852, art. 9(1), Sch. 5
- M31927 c. 70.
- C3S. 26 applied (24.10.2002) by European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002 (c. 24), ss. 7(5), 18(2)
- M41979 c. 34.
- F21S. 30 repealed (1.1.2007) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), ss. 1295, 1300, Sch. 16; S.I. 2006/3428, art. 7(a), Sch. 2 Pt. 1 (as amended by S.I. 2007/3495, art. 11, Sch. 5 and S.I. 2008/2860, art. 6)
- M51985 c. 6.
- I2S. 35 wholly in force; S. 35 partly in force at 21.12.1993 see s. 36(1); S. 35(2) wholly in force at 1.2.1994 by S.I. 1994/115, art. 2(2)
- M6S.I. 1992/1083
- F22S. 35(3) repealed (24.10.2002) by European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002 (c. 24), ss. 16, 18(2), Sch. 4
- M71983 c. 2.
- M81985 c. 50.
- M91985 c. 6.
- I3Sch. 2 wholly in force: Sch. 2 partly in force at 21.12.1993 see s. 36(1); Sch. 2 wholly in force for specified purposes at 1.2.1994 by S.I. 1994/115, art. 2(2)
- C4S. 26(2) applied (16.2.2011) by Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 (c. 1), s. 19(1), Sch. 2 para. 10(4)
- F23Ss. 32, 33 repealed (14.3.2012) by Charities Act 2011 (c. 25), s. 355, Sch. 10 (with s. 20(2), Sch. 8)
- C5Act modified (1.4.2012) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), s. 156(2), Sch. 12 para. 4; S.I. 2012/969, art. 2(b)
- C6S. 3: transfer of functions (1.4.2012) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 143(2), 156(2); S.I. 2012/969, art. 2(p)
- C7S. 3: transfer of functions (1.4.2012) by The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (Transfer of functions, Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2012 (No. 990), arts. 1(2), 3
- C8Pt. II transfer of functions (1.4.2012) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 143(4), 156(2); S.I. 2012/969, art. 2(p)
- F24Sch. 1 repealed (1.4.2012) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 143(5)(e), 156(2); S.I. 2012/969, art. 2(p)
- F25S. 1 repealed (1.4.2012) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 143(5)(a), 156(2); S.I. 2012/969, art. 2(p)
- F26S. 2 repealed (1.4.2012) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 143(5)(b), 156(2); S.I. 2012/969, art. 2(p)
- F27S. 4(1) repealed (1.4.2012) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 144(3)(b), 156(2); S.I. 2012/969, art. 2(p)
- F28S. 4(2) repealed (1.4.2012) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 143(5)(c), 156(2); S.I. 2012/969, art. 2(p)
- F29S. 34(2) repealed (1.4.2012) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 143(5)(d), 156(2); S.I. 2012/969, art. 2(p)
- F30S. 6(d) substituted (22.11.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 213; S.I. 2012/2892, art. 2(i)
- F31S. 28 repealed (1.8.2014) by Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (c. 14), s. 154, Sch. 7 (with Sch. 5)
- C9S. 26 applied (26.3.2015) by Recall of MPs Act 2015 (c. 25), ss. 21(5), 24(1)(e)
- F32Pt. 2 repealed (6.7.2015 for S.N.I.) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 145(2)(a), 156(2); S.I. 2015/1413, art. 2(b)
- F33S. 34(1) repealed (6.7.2015 for S.N.I.) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 145(2)(b), 156(2); S.I. 2015/1413, art. 2(b)
- F34S. 34(3) repealed (6.7.2015 for S.N.I.) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 145(2)(b), 156(2); S.I. 2015/1413, art. 2(b)
- C10Pt. II excluded (7.7.2015) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 144(2), 156(2); S.I. 2015/1413, art. 3(e)
- C11S. 3 functions abolished (1.6.2012 , 7.7.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 144(1), 156(2); S.I. 2012/1423, art. 2(b); S.I. 2015/1413, art. 3(e)
- F35S. 3 repealed (1.6.2012 , 6.7.2015 for S.N.I. in so far as not already in force, 7.7.2015 for E.W. in so far as not already in force) by Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1), ss. 144(3)(a), 156(2); S.I. 2012/1423, art. 2(c); S.I. 2015/1413, arts. 2(a), 3(e)
- C12S. 26 applied (17.12.2015) by European Union Referendum Act 2015 (c. 36), ss. 9(6), 13(1)
- C13S. 25 functions made exercisable concurrently or jointly with the Welsh Ministers by 2006 c. 32, Sch. 3A para. 1 (as inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 4 para. 1 (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(p))
- C14S. 26 functions made exercisable concurrently or jointly with the Welsh Ministers by 2006 c. 32, Sch. 3A para. 1 (as inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 4 para. 1 (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(p))
- F36S. 6(1)(k) omitted (W.) (1.8.2024) by virtue of The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/803), regs. 1(2), 3(2)