THE first Welsh bill passed under the National Assembly’s new legislative powers received Royal Assent today in an historic ceremony in Cardiff.
The National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Bill was introduced by the National Assembly’s Commission because it wanted to officially recognise both the Welsh and English languages as the official languages of Assembly proceedings.
It became law when the Welsh Seal was applied to the letters patent, by the First Minister Carwyn Jones, which were signed with Her Majesty’s own hand to signify Her Assent, and notified to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
“In March 2011 the people of Wales gave their overwhelming support to the Assembly receiving full law-making powers,” said the National Assembly’s Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler AM.
“Today, the First ever Act of the National Assembly for Wales receives Royal Assent. How fitting it is that our first Act as a full law-making body will confer equal status on the Welsh and English languages in the proceedings of the Assembly.
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