MOD Welsh Language Scheme Annual Monitoring Report 2020-2021
Published 10 June 2022
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1. About this report
This is the MODWLS Annual Monitoring Report to the Welsh Language Commissioner, submitted in Welsh and English. It outlines our performance in fulfilling our MODWLS policy commitments during 2020-2021.
2. About the MODWLS
We have committed to treat the Welsh and English languages equally when conducting public business in Wales. The MODWLS sets out how the Ministry of Defence will give effect to this commitment when providing services to the public in Wales.
3. Managing the MODWLS
Laurence Lee, Second Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, retains overall responsibility for the Department’s legal compliance of the MODWLS. The MODWLS is managed on his behalf by the Defence Digital, Information Stewardship team.
4. Review of the Year
Our services were minimally affected during the COVID-19 national lockdowns and local restrictions in England and Wales in 2020 to 2021.
A significant update to the MODWLS was signed off by the Permanent Secretary, approved by the Welsh Language Commissioner, and successfully launched in 2021. The launch received significant attention throughout MOD, generating significant positive feedback and engagement, with a substantial increase in email enquiries to the MOD Welsh Language Scheme Team. The Scheme also received positive national news and social media coverage.
The MOD Welsh Language Champion (MOD WLC), Air Commodore Dai Williams has been invaluable in his role driving adoption and increasing awareness of the MODWLS throughout the Department. The MOD WLC’s commitment to ensuring the widest pick-up of the MODWLS has been evidenced throughout the year where his advice and guidance on the launch of the updated MODWLS have been particularly insightful.
We have developed, launched, and promoted the MODWLS Toolkit to ensure that the impact of any Department policy, programme or service provision deployed in Wales takes the Welsh language and the Welsh speaking public in Wales into consideration at the earliest stage of their development. The MODWLS Toolkit currently satisfies our commitment to create a ‘Welsh Language Wiki’ pending delivery of a Defence Wiki platform. The Toolkit is easily accessible and takes users through the steps and assessments they need to undertake to comply with the MODWLS.
Our positive working relationship with the HM Courts and Tribunal Services (HMCTS) Welsh Language Unit continues. They deliver an excellent service, translating a great variety of texts promptly and operating our Welsh Language Telephone Helpline service. We have experienced some small delays in the rendering of translations this year due to Covid-19 and unforeseeable increases to the HMCTS Welsh Language Unit workload. These have been well managed by the Unit and communicated to us in good time.
The MODWLS homepage is now live on gov.uk giving the public access to the MODWLS documents, our annual reports, information about the MOD WLC as well as contact information for the MOD Welsh Language Scheme Team.
We continue to promote the ‘Work Welsh’ programme encouraging our staff, especially those based in Wales, to learn or to improve their ability to speak and write in Welsh. We plan to develop an enhanced Welsh language learning provision in the future.
5. The Year Ahead: 2021 to 2022
We will actively encourage and promote the use of the new MODWLS Toolkit to ensure MOD-wide compliance with the MODWLS and that the required assessments and considerations are undertaken at the beginning of the policy, programme and service creation process.
We will track our progress in this area and encourage feedback to consistently improve the service and tools we offer.
We aim to continue to build our relationship with the Defence Engagement School, Defence Centre for Language and Culture with the intention of developing an enhanced Welsh language learning provision for MOD staff.
We are preparing to launch the MOD Welsh Speakers Network in early 2022 which will bring together Welsh speakers across MOD. This will be managed by the MOD WLC and operate entirely in Welsh. We hope this will promote community, offer support and opportunities for Welsh speakers in MOD.
6. Conclusion
We remain committed to the MODWLS; to ensuring we treat the Welsh and English languages equally when conducting business in Wales. We are focussed on fully bedding in our 2021 update to the Scheme, to developing and promoting the MODWLS throughout the Department and to offering high-quality guidance to all MOD staff. We will continue to use and develop the tools and services we offer to ensure compliance with