The Welsh Language Board (Welsh: Bwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg) was a statutory body set up by the UK Government under the Welsh Language Act 1993. It was an Assembly Sponsored Public Body. It began its life under John Walter Jones OBE and its last Chief Executive was Meirion Prys Jones, with Meri Huws acting as Chair.
It received an annual government grant of £13m which was used to "promote and facilitate" the use of the Welsh language.
The Board was responsible for administering the Welsh Language Act and for seeing that public bodies in Wales keep to its terms. Over 500 Welsh language schemes were agreed with a range of bodies named under the provisions of the Act.
In cases where there are concerns that public bodies are not complying with their Welsh language schemes, the Board could hold a statutory investigation. If the Board's investigations indicate that an organisation has broken its own Welsh language scheme, it could produce recommendations to the organisation and, ultimately, transfer the matter to the Minister for Heritage at the Welsh Assembly Government.
The Board's Private Sector and Business team worked with a wide variety of large and small companies. Since launching the private sector Welsh language policy in November 2008, over 100 businesses produced a policy, and 150 companies signed up to the Board's "Investing in Welsh' scheme", indicating support for the language.
The Welsh Language Board was at the forefront of promoting bilingual design. They supported this goal by holding annual Welsh Language Board bilingual awards. In 2006 winners, included FBA, Glass Hammer, Synergy Creative Design & Marketing, Hoffi, 6721, Elfen, Zodshop and Departures.
In the winter of 2004 Rhodri Morgan, previous First Minister of Wales, announced his decision to abolish the Welsh Language Board. This decision evoked a mixed reaction throughout Wales; welcomed by Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg but met with scepticism by others. It is to be abolished under part 9, section 143(1) of the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011. Under this Act, it was abolished on 31 March 2012 and replaced with the Welsh Language Commissioner, with Meri Huws being the first Commissioner. The Board's powers were transferred to the Welsh Government and the Commissioner.
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Portmadoc, Borth, Tremadoc, Penrhyndeudraeth,
Were all assembled. Criccieth’s mayor addressed them
First in good Welsh and then in fluent English,”
—Robert Graves (1895–1985)
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)