{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welsh-language-standards-no-4-regulations-2016/schedule-1/part-1",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welsh-language-standards-no-4-regulations-2016/schedule-1/part-1.json",
  "legislation": "wsi/2016/405",
  "legislation_title": "The Welsh Language Standards (No. 4) Regulations 2016",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welsh-language-standards-no-4-regulations-2016",
  "path": "schedule/1/part/1",
  "kind": "part",
  "number": "1",
  "heading": "THE STANDARDS",
  "text": "1\nStandards relating to correspondence sent by a body\n(1) When a body replies to correspondence\nStandard 1:\nIf you receive correspondence from a person in Welsh you must reply in Welsh (if an answer is required), unless the person has indicated that there is no need to reply in Welsh.\n(2) When a body initiates correspondence\n(a) When a body corresponds with an individual\nStandard 2:\nWhen you correspond with an individual (“A”) for the first time, you must ask A whether A wishes to receive correspondence from you in Welsh, and if A responds to say that A wishes to receive correspondence in Welsh you must—\n(a) keep a record of A’s wish,\n(b) correspond with A in Welsh when corresponding with A from then onwards, and\n(c) send any forms you send to A from then onwards in Welsh.\n(b) When a body corresponds with more than one member of the same household\nStandard 3:\nWhen you send correspondence addressed to two individuals who are members of the same household (for example, the parents of a child) for the first time, you must ask them whether they wish to receive correspondence from you in Welsh; and if —\n(a) both individuals respond to say that they wish to receive correspondence in Welsh, you must keep a record of that wish and correspond in Welsh from then onwards when sending correspondence addressed to both of those individuals;\n(b) one (but not both) of the individuals responds to say that he or she wishes to receive correspondence in Welsh, you must keep a record of that wish and provide a Welsh language version of correspondence from then onwards when sending correspondence addressed to both of those individuals.\n(c) When a body corresponds with several persons (for example, when it sends a circular, or sends the same letter to a number of homes)\nStandard 4:\nWhen you send the same correspondence to several persons, you must send a Welsh language version of the correspondence at the same time as you send any English language version.\n(3) General standards relating to correspondence\nStandard 5:\nIf you don’t know whether a person wishes to receive correspondence from you in Welsh, when you correspond with that person you must provide a Welsh language version of the correspondence.\nStandard 6:\nIf you produce a Welsh language version and a corresponding English language version of correspondence, you must not treat the Welsh language version less favourably than the English language version (for example, if the English version is signed, or if contact details are provided on the English version, then the Welsh version must be treated in the same way).\nStandard 7:\nYou must state —\n(a) in correspondence, and\n(b) in publications and notices that invite persons to respond to you or to correspond with you,\nthat you welcome receiving correspondence in Welsh, that you will respond to correspondence in Welsh, and that corresponding in Welsh will not lead to delay.\n2\nStandards relating to telephone calls made and received by a body\n(1) Telephone calls made to a body’s main contact number and to any helplines or call centres\nStandard 8:\nWhen a person contacts you on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must greet the person in Welsh.\nStandard 9:\nWhen a person contacts you on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must inform the person that a Welsh language service is available.\nStandard 10:\nWhen a person contacts you on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must deal with the call in Welsh in its entirety if that is the person’s wish (where necessary by transferring the call to a member of staff who is able to deal with the call in Welsh).\nStandard 11:\nWhen a person contacts you on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must deal with the call in Welsh if that is the person’s wish until such point as —\n(a) it is necessary to transfer the call to a member of staff who does not speak Welsh who can provide a service on a specific subject matter; and\n(b) no Welsh speaking member of staff is available to provide a service on that specific subject matter.\nStandard 12:\nWhen you advertise telephone numbers, helpline numbers or call centre services, you must not treat the Welsh language less favourably than the English language.\nStandard 13:\nIf you offer a Welsh language service on your main telephone number (or numbers), on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, the telephone number for the Welsh language service must be the same as for the corresponding English language service.\nStandard 14:\nWhen you publish your main telephone number, or any helpline numbers or call centre service numbers, you must state (in Welsh) that you welcome calls in Welsh.\nStandard 15:\nIf you have performance indicators for dealing with telephone calls, you must ensure that those performance indicators do not treat telephone calls made in Welsh any less favourably than calls made in English.\nStandard 16:\nYour main telephone call answering service (or services) must inform persons calling, in Welsh, that they can leave a message in Welsh.\nStandard 17:\nWhen there is no Welsh language service available on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must inform persons calling in Welsh (by way of an automated message or otherwise), when a Welsh language service will be available.\n(2) Telephone calls made to departments and to members of a body’s staff\nStandard 18:\nIf a person contacts one of your departments on a direct line telephone number (including on staff members’ direct line numbers), and that person wishes to receive a service in Welsh, you must deal with the call in Welsh in its entirety (if necessary by transferring the call to a member of staff who is able to deal with the call in Welsh).\nStandard 19:\nIf a person contacts one of your departments on a direct line telephone number (including on staff members’ direct line numbers), and that person wishes to receive a service in Welsh, you must deal with the call in Welsh until such point as —\n(a) it is necessary to transfer the call to a member of staff who does not speak Welsh who can provide a service on a specific subject matter; and\n(b) no Welsh speaking member of staff is available to provide a service on that specific subject matter.\nStandard 20:\nWhen a person contacts you on a direct line number (whether on a department’s direct line number or on the direct line number of a member of staff), you must ensure that, when greeting the person, the Welsh language is not treated less favourably than the English language.\n(3) Telephone calls made by a body\nStandard 21:\nWhen you telephone an individual (“A”) for the first time you must ask A whether A wishes to receive telephone calls from you in Welsh, and if A responds to say that A wishes to receive telephone calls in Welsh you must keep a record of that wish, and conduct telephone calls made to A from then onwards in Welsh.\n(4) A body dealing with telephone calls using an automated system\nStandard 22:\nAny automated telephone systems that you have must provide the complete automated service in Welsh.\n3\nStandards relating to a body holding meetings that are not open to the general public\n(1) Meetings between a body and one other invited person\nStandard 23:\nIf you invite one person only (“P”) to a meeting, you must offer to conduct the meeting in Welsh; and if P informs you that P wishes for the meeting to be conducted in Welsh, you must conduct the meeting in Welsh (without the assistance of a simultaneous or consecutive translation service).\nStandard 24:\nIf you invite one person only (“P”) to a meeting you must ask P whether P wishes to use the Welsh language at the meeting, and inform P that you will, if necessary, provide a translation service from Welsh to English for that purpose.\nStandard 24A:\nIf you have invited one person only (“P”) to a meeting and P has informed you that P wishes to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting (unless you conduct the meeting in Welsh without the assistance of a translation service).\nStandard 24B:\nIf you have invited one person only (“P”) to a meeting and P has informed you that P wishes to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a consecutive translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting (unless you conduct the meeting in Welsh without the assistance of a translation service).\n(2) Meetings between a body and more than one invited person\nStandard 25:\nIf you invite more than one person to a meeting, you must ask each person whether they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting.\nStandard 25A:\nIf you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and at least 10% (but less than 100%) of the persons invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting.\nStandard 25B:\nIf you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and at least 20% (but less than 100%) of the persons invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting.\nStandard 25C:\nIf you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and at least 30% (but less than 100%) of the persons invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting.\nStandard 25CH:\nIf you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and all of the persons invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must conduct the meeting in Welsh (without the assistance of a simultaneous or consecutive translation service).\nStandard 25D:\nIf you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and all of the persons invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting (unless you conduct the meeting in Welsh without the assistance of a translation service).\n4\nStandards relating to meetings arranged by a body that are open to the public\nStandard 26:\nIf you arrange a meeting that is open to the public you must state on any material advertising it, and on any invitation to it, that anyone attending is welcome to use the Welsh language at the meeting.\nStandard 27:\nWhen you send invitations to a meeting that you arrange which is open to the public, you must send the invitations in Welsh.\nStandard 28:\nIf you invite persons to speak at a meeting that you arrange which is open to the public you must —\n(a) ask each person invited to speak whether he or she wishes to use the Welsh language, and\n(b) if that person (or at least one of those persons) has informed you that he or she wishes to use the Welsh language at the meeting, provide a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English for that purpose (unless you conduct the meeting in Welsh without a translation service).\nStandard 29:\nIf you arrange a meeting that is open to the public, you must ensure that a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English is available at the meeting, and you must orally inform those present in Welsh —\n(a) that they are welcome to use the Welsh language, and\n(b) that a simultaneous translation service is available.\nStandard 30:\nIf you display any written material at a meeting that you arrange which is open to the public, you must ensure that the material is displayed in Welsh, and you must not treat any Welsh language text less favourably than the English language text.\n5\nStandards relating to public events organised or funded by a body\nStandard 31:\nIf you organise a public event, or fund at least 50% of a public event, you must ensure that, in promoting the event, the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language (for example, in the way the event is advertised or publicised).\nStandard 32:\nIf you organise a public event, or fund at least 50% of a public event, you must ensure that the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language at the event (for example, in relation to services offered to persons attending the event, in relation to signs displayed at the event and in relation to audio announcements made at the event).\n6\nStandard relating to a body’s publicity and advertising\nStandard 33:\nAny publicity or advertising material that you produce must be produced in Welsh, and if you produce the material in Welsh and in English, you must not treat the Welsh language version less favourably than you treat the English language version.\n7\nStandards relating to a body displaying material in public\nStandard 34:\nAny material that you display in public must be displayed in Welsh, and you must not treat any Welsh language version of the material less favourably than the English language version.\nStandard 35:\nAny material that you display at a public exhibition organised by you must be displayed in Welsh, and you must not treat any Welsh language version of the material less favourably than you treat an English language version.\n8\nStandards relating to a body producing and publishing documents\nStandard 36:\nAny documents that you produce for public use must be produced in Welsh.\nStandard 37:\nIf you produce agendas, minutes and other papers for meetings, conferences or seminars that are open to the public, you must produce them in Welsh.\nStandard 38:\nAny licence, permit or certificate you produce must be produced in Welsh.\nStandard 39:\nAny brochure, leaflet, pamphlet or card that you produce in order to provide information to the public must be produced in Welsh.\nStandard 40:\nIf you produce the following documents, and they are available to the public, you must produce them in Welsh —\n(a) policies, strategies, annual reports and corporate plans;\n(b) guidelines and codes of practice;\n(c) consultation papers.\nStandard 41:\nAny rules that you publish that apply to the public must be published in Welsh.\nStandard 42:\nWhen you issue any statement to the press you must issue it in Welsh and, if there is a Welsh language version and an English language version of a statement, you must issue both versions at the same time.\nStandard 43:\nIf you produce a document which is available to the public, and no other standard has required you to produce the document in Welsh, you must produce it in Welsh —\n(a) if the subject matter of the document suggests that it should be produced in Welsh, or\n(b) if the anticipated audience, and their expectations, suggests that the document should be produced in Welsh.\nStandard 44:\nIf you produce a document in Welsh and in English (whether separate versions or not), you must not treat any Welsh language version less favourably than you treat the English language version.\nStandard 45:\nIf you produce a Welsh language version and a separate English language version of a document, you must ensure that the English language version clearly states that the document is also available in Welsh.\n9\nStandards relating to a body producing and publishing forms\nStandard 46:\nAny form that you make available to the public must be produced in Welsh.\nStandard 46A:\nIf you produce a Welsh language version and a separate English language version of a form, you must ensure that the English language version clearly states that the form is also available in Welsh.\nStandard 46B:\nIf you produce a form in Welsh and in English (whether separate versions or not), you must ensure that the Welsh language version is treated no less favourably than the English language version, and you must not differentiate between the Welsh and English versions in relation to any requirements that are relevant to the form (for example in relation to any deadline for submitting the form, or in relation to the time allowed to respond to the content of the form).\nStandard 47:\nIf you pre-enter information on a Welsh language version of a form (for example, before sending it to a member of the public in order for him or her to check the content or to fill in the remainder of the form), you must ensure that the information that you pre-enter is in Welsh.\n10\nStandards relating to legal proceedings\nStandard 48:\nYou must state in publications, guidance and notices that you produce informing persons about legal proceedings that they may submit forms and documents and make written representations to you in Welsh.\nStandard 49:\nWhere a person contacts you to commence or respond to legal proceedings, you must ask the person to indicate whether the person wishes to speak in Welsh in any legal proceedings.\nStandard 50:\nWhere a person (“P”) contacts you for the first time to commence or respond to legal proceedings, you must ask P to indicate whether P wishes to receive copies in Welsh of forms and documents that you produce and which are to be available to P (including, for example, written determinations or orders in relation to those legal proceedings).\nStandard 50A:\nWhere a person (“P”) contacts you to commence or respond to legal proceedings, and P indicates that they wish to receive copies in Welsh of forms and documents that you produce and which are to be made available to P, you—\n(a) must provide such forms and documents in Welsh in relation to those legal proceedings, and\n(b) must not treat the production of them less favourably than forms and documents you produce in English.\nStandard 51:\nWhere you receive forms or documents in Welsh from a person (“P”) commencing or responding to legal proceedings, you must not treat those forms or documents less favourably than ones that you receive in English (including amongst other matters, in relation to the timescale for receiving such forms and documents and informing P of decisions).\n11\nStandards relating to a body’s websites and on-line services\n(1) Websites published by a body\nStandard 52:\nYou must ensure that —\n(a) the text of each page of your website is available in Welsh,\n(b) every Welsh language page on your website is fully functional, and\n(c) the Welsh language is not treated less favourably than the English language on your website.\nStandard 53:\nYou must ensure that —\n(a) the text of the homepage of your website is available in Welsh,\n(b) any Welsh language text on your homepage (or, where relevant, your Welsh language homepage) is fully functional, and\n(c) the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language in relation to the homepage of your website.\nStandard 54:\nYou must ensure that when you publish a new page on your website or amend a page —\n(a) the text of that page is available in Welsh,\n(b) any Welsh language version of that page is fully functional, and\n(c) the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language in relation to that page.\nStandard 55:\nIf you have a Welsh language web page that corresponds to an English language web page, you must state clearly on the English language web page that the page is also available in Welsh, and you must provide a direct link to the Welsh page on the corresponding English page.\nStandard 56:\nYou must provide the interface and menus on every page of your website in Welsh.\n(2) Apps published by a body\nStandard 57:\nAll apps that you publish must function fully in Welsh, and the Welsh language must be treated no less favourably than the English language in relation to that app.\n12\nStandards relating to a body’s use of social media\nStandard 58:\nWhen you use social media you must not treat the Welsh language less favourably than the English language.\nStandard 59:\nIf a person contacts you by social media in Welsh, you must reply in Welsh (if an answer is required).\n13\nStandard relating to self service machines\nStandard 60:\nYou must ensure that any self service machines that you have function fully in Welsh, and the Welsh language must be treated no less favourably than the English language in relation to that machine.\n14\nStandards relating to signs displayed by a body\nStandard 61:\nWhen you erect a new sign or renew a sign (including temporary signs), any text displayed on the sign must be displayed in Welsh (whether on the same sign as you display corresponding English language text or on a separate sign); and if the same text is displayed in Welsh and in English, you must not treat the Welsh language text less favourably than the English language text.\nStandard 62:\nWhen you erect a new sign or renew a sign (including temporary signs) which conveys the same information in Welsh and in English, the Welsh-language text must be positioned so that it is likely to be read first.\nStandard 63:\nYou must ensure that the Welsh language text on signs is accurate in terms of meaning and expression.\n15\nStandards relating to a body receiving visitors at its buildings\nStandard 64:\nAny reception service you make available in English must also be available in Welsh, and any person who requires a Welsh language reception service must not be treated less favourably than a person who requires an English language reception service.\nStandard 65:\nIf you arrange a visit or appointment in advance for a person (“P”) which will mean that P will come to your reception, you must ask P whether P wishes to receive a Welsh language reception service (unless you already know whether P wishes to receive that service in Welsh).\nStandard 65A:\nYou must provide a face to face Welsh language reception service for a person (“P”) at your reception if you have arranged a visit or appointment for P in advance and —\n(a) P has informed you in advance that P wishes to receive the service in Welsh, or\n(b) you are already aware that P wishes to receive the service in Welsh.\nStandard 66:\nIf you have no face to face Welsh language reception service available, you must ensure that a Welsh language reception service is available over a phone in your reception.\nStandard 67:\nYou must display a sign in your reception which states (in Welsh) that persons are welcome to use the Welsh language at the reception.\nStandard 68:\nYou must ensure that staff at the reception who are able to provide a Welsh language reception service wear a badge to convey that.\n16\nStandards relating to notices made by a body\nStandard 69:\nAny notice that you publish or display must be published or displayed in Welsh, and you must not treat any Welsh language version of a notice less favourably than an English language version.\nStandard 70:\nWhen you publish or display a notice that contains Welsh language text as well as English language text, the Welsh language text must be positioned so that it is likely to be read first.\n17\nStandards relating to a body awarding contracts\nStandard 71:\nAny invitations to tender for a contract that you publish must be published in Welsh, and you must not treat a Welsh language version of any invitation less favourably than an English language version.\nStandard 72:\nWhen you publish invitations to tender for a contract, you must state in the invitation that tenders may be submitted in Welsh, and that a tender submitted in Welsh will be treated no less favourably than a tender submitted in English.\nStandard 72A:\nYou must not treat a tender for a contract submitted in Welsh less favourably than a tender submitted in English (including, amongst other matters, in relation to the closing date for receiving tenders, and in relation to the timescale for informing tenderers of decisions).\nStandard 73:\nIf you receive a tender in Welsh and it is necessary to interview a tenderer as part of your assessment of the tender, you must offer to conduct that interview in Welsh and, if the tenderer so wishes, you must conduct the interview in Welsh (without the assistance of a simultaneous or consecutive translation service).\nStandard 74:\nIf you receive a tender in Welsh and it is necessary to interview the tenderer as part of your assessment of the tender you must —\n(a) offer to provide a translation service from Welsh to English to enable the tenderer to use the Welsh language at the interview, and\n(b) if the tenderer wishes to use the Welsh language at the interview, provide a simultaneous translation service for that purpose (unless you conduct the interview in Welsh without a translation service).\nStandard 75:\nWhen you inform a tenderer of your decision in relation to a tender, you must do so in Welsh if the tender was submitted in Welsh.\n18\nStandards for raising awareness about Welsh language services provided by a body\nStandard 76:\nYou must promote any Welsh language service that you provide, and advertise that service in Welsh.\nStandard 77:\nIf you provide a service in Welsh that corresponds to a service you provide in English, any publicity or document that you produce, or website that you publish, which refers to the English service must also state that a corresponding service is available in Welsh.\n19\nStandard relating to a body’s corporate identity\nStandard 78:\nWhen you form, revise or present your corporate identity, you must not treat the Welsh language less favourably than the English language.\n20\nStandards relating to courses offered by a body\nStandard 79:\nIf you offer an education course that is open to the public, you must offer it in Welsh.\nStandard 80:\nIf you offer an education course that is open to the public and which is aimed specifically at persons aged 18 or under, you must offer it in Welsh.\nStandard 81:\nIf you develop an education course that is to be offered to the public, you must assess the need for that course to be offered in Welsh; and you must ensure that the assessment is published on your website.\n21\nStandard relating to public address systems used by a body\nStandard 82:\nWhen you announce a message over a public address system, you must make that announcement in Welsh and, if the announcement is made in Welsh and in English, the announcement must be made in Welsh first.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Sch. 1 Pt. 1 in force at 22.3.2016, see reg. 1(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "Section 22 of the Welsh Language Act 1993 (c.38) makes provision about speaking Welsh in legal proceedings."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2016/405/schedule/1/part/1",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T23:30:22.230522+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."
}