{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/government-of-wales-act-2006/schedule-2/paragraph-8",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/government-of-wales-act-2006/schedule-2/paragraph-8.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2006/32",
  "legislation_title": "Government of Wales Act 2006",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/government-of-wales-act-2006",
  "path": "schedule/2/paragraph/8",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "8",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "(1) The Senedd Commission must make appropriate arrangements with a view to securing that its functions are exercised with due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people.\n(2) In the exercise of the functions of the Senedd Commission due regard must be had to the principle of promoting sustainable development.\n(3) The Senedd Commission must, in the exercise of its functions—\n(a) treat the official languages of the Senedd on a basis of equality, and\n(b) make arrangements for enabling effect to be given to section 35(1), (1A), (1B) and (1C).\n(4) The Senedd Commission must—\n(a) adopt, and\n(b) publish,\na scheme, to be known as the Senedd Commission's Official Languages Scheme (“ the Scheme ”), specifying the measures which it proposes to take in order to comply with its duties under sub-paragraph (3).\n(5) The Scheme must include (amongst other things) provision about—\n(a) simultaneous interpretation from one official language into the other—\n(i) in all Senedd proceedings,\n(ii) in public meetings conducted on behalf of the Senedd Commission, and\n(iii) in such other meetings connected with the functions of the Senedd or the Senedd Commission as may be provided for in the Scheme,\n(b) publication of documents in both official languages, subject to any exceptions identified in the Scheme,\n(c) public engagement with—\n(i) Senedd proceedings, and\n(ii) other functions of the Senedd and of the Senedd Commission,\nthrough the medium of either of the official languages,\n(d) practical measures to foster and continually improve freedom of choice of official language—\n(i) on the part of those participating in Senedd proceedings, and\n(ii) in relation to the functions of the Senedd or the Senedd Commission generally,\n(e) the setting of targets and timescales relating to implementation of the Scheme,\n(f) the allocation of responsibilities for implementing the Scheme,\n(g) objective means of measuring progress in implementing the Scheme, and\n(h) a strategy for ensuring that the staff of the Senedd have, collectively, the language skills necessary to enable the Scheme to be implemented.\n(6) The Scheme must include provision relating to the receipt, investigation and consideration of complaints of failures to give effect to provisions of the Scheme.\n(7) The Scheme must identify those services provided or to be provided in the official languages and explain how those services are to be provided in accordance with paragraph 8(5).\n(8) The Senedd Commission must, in respect of each financial year, lay before the Senedd a report setting out how the Commission has, during the year in question, given effect to the Scheme.\n(9) The report prepared by the Senedd Commission under sub-paragraph (8) must include—\n(a) whether and to what degree the services referred to in sub-paragraph (7) have been provided, and\n(b) if applicable, the reasons why the Commission has not provided any of the services referred to in sub-paragraph (7) in both official languages.\n(10) The Senedd Commission—\n(a) must review the Scheme as soon as is reasonably practicable after each ordinary general election, or after an extraordinary general election to which section 5(5) applies, and\n(b) may, at any time, adopt a new Scheme or an amendment to the existing Scheme.\n(11) The Senedd Commission may not adopt a Scheme, or an amendment to a Scheme, unless (whether before or after the coming into force of this paragraph)—\n(a) a draft of the Scheme (or of the amendment) has been—\n(i) published, and\n(ii) laid before the Senedd,\n(b) the Senedd Commission has given—\n(i) those persons whom the Senedd Commission considers it appropriate to consult in relation to the Scheme, and\n(ii) the Senedd,\nreasonable opportunity to make representations in relation to the draft,\n(c) the Senedd Commission has considered any representations made about the draft Scheme (or draft amendment) by—\n(i) the persons consulted under sub-paragraph (b)(i), and\n(ii) the Senedd, and\n(d) the Scheme (or the amendment) incorporating such modifications as the Senedd Commission may, having considered such representations, make, has been laid before and approved by resolution of, the Senedd.\n(12) The Senedd Commission must give effect to the Scheme.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in Act substituted (6.5.2020) by Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 (anaw 1), s. 42(2), Sch. 1 para. 2(19) (with Sch. 1 para. 2(11)-(14))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Sch. 2 para. 8(3)-(12) substituted for Sch. 2 para. 8(3) (13.11.2012) by National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Act 2012 (anaw 1), ss. 2, 3(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "This provision in force immediately after \"the 2007 election\" by s. 161(1) (subject to s. 161(4)(5))"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/32/schedule/2/paragraph/8",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:14:12.769607+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}