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[Closing 4 December 2012]

We are seeking your views on the draft Welsh Language Scheme for the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). We in NOMS recognise the importance and value of both the Welsh Language and Welsh culture in helping to deliver our services effectively and efficiently to people in Wales. The Scheme sets out how we in NOMS will ensure that the public in Wales and Welsh speaking prisoners will have access to appropriate services in Welsh. We are committed to fulfilling our legal obligations under the Welsh Language Act 1993 and the 2011 Welsh Language Measure, which are the drivers behind this new Scheme. Beyond its implementation, we will work with the Service to ensure that we continue to be compliant and address any shortcomings in our policies, or interpretation of them. It has been a challenge to set out exactly what is required in terms of the prison estate - the fact that we have a number of Welsh speakers who are not in Welsh prisons complicates matters. To that end we would particularly welcome views on how we might better approach the Prison Service elements of the Scheme. We hope that you will consider our proposals carefully to help ensure that they are sensible, proportionate and fair, and will make a genuine difference when they are introduced.