Welsh language scheme

1 Introduction

1.1 The Inspectorate is an Executive Agency in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the National Assembly for Wales. Our aim is for the Inspectorate to be the prime source of impartial expertise for resolving disputes about the use of land, natural resources and the environment in Wales.

1.2 We employ over 650 people. The Inspectorate's headquarters is in Bristol but an office in Cardiff handles the majority of casework for Wales. There are (360) administrative staff and (300) salaried and fee paid Planning Inspectors based in Bristol and 14 administrative staff and 13 Planning Inspectors attached to the Cardiff office.

1.3 The wide range of our work covers appeals and other casework involving planning, housing, environmental, highways and other legislation. Most of the Inspectorate's work arises from general planning appeals, enforcement and development plan inquiries.

1.4 The Government believes that services in the Welsh language should be an inseparable part of the delivery of public services in Wales. The Inspectorate implements that policy in fulfilling its public service functions in Wales. The Inspectorate aims to deliver an equally high standard of service to its customers through the medium of both languages, and will aim to ensure that facilities are available so as to ensure completeness and consistency in the standard of service provided to the Welsh speaking customers. The Inspectorate will implement this policy by adopting the following principles so that customers in Wales can conduct their business with us in the language of their choice:

• It is recognised that our customers can express their views better in their preferred language of communication.



• We acknowledge that welcoming our customers to use their preferred language is a matter of good practice and customer care.



• It is accepted that in the spirit of equality expressed in the Welsh Language Act, our customers have the right to choose whether they wish to communicate with us and our Planning Inspectors in English or Welsh.

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