Assembly Welsh translation ends

AMs will still be able to speak Welsh or English in the assembly chamber

The written record of proceedings in the Welsh assembly chamber will no longer be fully bilingual in future.

The words of AMs speaking English will not be printed in Welsh, to save some £250,000 a year, although Welsh will continue to be translated into English.

The Assembly Commission said the arrangements were being brought into line with those for committees.

It said it would consider making un-translated earlier versions of the record available.

A spokesman for the Assembly Commission, in charge of the day-to-day running of the assembly, said it was "looking to make a number of improvements to the provision of the availability of National Assembly for Wales proceedings".

The statement continued: "Senedd.tv (on the internet) is the main platform used by the National Assembly for Wales for recording and distributing assembly proceedings.

"But we are also looking at making the early versions of the written record, solely in the language of delivery, available on the internet much earlier than in the past thus increasing engagement.

"The record of proceedings will still be bilingual and this brings the arrangement of plenary meetings into line with those for committees which have been operating for some time (where Welsh is translated into English but not vice versa).

"Assembly Members continue to be able to speak in any of our meetings or proceedings in Welsh or English."