Cymdeithas 'cut out' of law-making

Former First Minister Rhodri Morgan failed to meet any Welsh language campaign groups during discussions about handing powers over the Welsh language to politicians in Cardiff, despite meeting several major businesses, recently released documents have revealed.According to information released to Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (the Welsh Language Society), in a series of 10 meetings to discuss the Assembly's bid for powers, the then Welsh Labour Leader met 11 companies and business associations including Tesco, BT, the CBI and British Gas, as well as the government-funded Welsh Language Board. But , despite requests from the Welsh Language Society, no meeting was held between the First Minister and any language campaigning body.

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain did meet campaigners late on in the process in October 2009, only a few days before the final order devolving the powers was published.In a letter to current First Minister Carwyn Jones, the Chair of Cymdeithas, Menna Machreth Jones said:"It doesn't feel as though the government has given a fair hearing to organisations who have been campaigning for many years for rights for everyone to see, hear and use the Welsh language. Several big businesses met with the First Minister - the person who was responsible for striking a deal with Westminster - but not a single campaigning organisations like us who wanted far more comprehensive law-making powers had the same opportunity.""While the First Minister did meet the Language Board, they obviously couldn't take an objective view on the legislation because abolishing them as a board is a central part of it. The Heritage Minister has met us, but discussions between Wales and London are a matter for the First Minister. It's seems that the have been dominated by private sector interests rather than people's rights. We write looking for an assurance that in the future you as First Minister and other Ministers will give language campaigners an equal hearing during consultation on a future Assembly law."