Lack of transparency' on Welsh Government language rule staff.

BBC Wales report on claims that

'Lack of transparency' on Welsh Government language rule staff.

They say that

Plaid Cymru has accused the Welsh Government of a lack of transparency over how many staff are working on Welsh language regulations.

When asked by AMs

At a committee hearing in January the Plaid AM Sian Gwenllian asked the Welsh Language minister Eluned Morgan how many officials were working on regulations for Welsh language standards.

The minister initially answered "Oh my God, loads", before saying staffing was a matter for top civil servant Dame Shan Morgan

Sian Gwenllian, Plaid AM, says she has been unable to get an answer to the question since the comments.

A Welsh Government minister said the issue was "complex".

Ms Gwenllian also criticised the government's top civil servant Dame Shan Morgan for trying to "spin" answers to questions.

Ms Morgan who recently announced she had set up a "Beyond the Bubble" website, "where I'm asking people to let me know what they think the future of Wales should look like" has been criticised for it being in English only is expected to run for the "Welsh" Labour Leadership. Perhaps she needs to master her current remit first.

Three months after Oh my God, loads", - and following more questions - the Permanent Secretary Dame Shan wrote back to say:

"I am content that there are sufficient policy officials within the division to take this work forward in line with ministerial priorities."

Ms Gwenllian said:

"I think we have a right to get an answer to a completely reasonable question without having to go down the route of freedom of information.

"I think it's very very worrying the lack of transparency and the lack of democracy."

"It's not her place [Dame Shan] to give it a spin. That's ministerial speak."re there and we are not going to tell you what's going on," she said.

After Ms Gwenllian raised it in the Senedd, assembly leader Julie James told her: "

I'm aware of the issue.

"I think it actually turns out to be relatively complex, but I will write to you Sian Gwenllian and make sure you have - however complex the answer is - a direct answer to your question."

Later a Welsh Government spokesman said:

"The Permanent Secretary's response sought to provide personal assurance that sufficient resources are in place to meet ministerial priorities in the area.

"She will write to Sian Gwenllian to clarify the position."

Normally Government Ministers try to hide the number of Civil Servants working in a department , because it could be seen as a high number.

But in this case it seems likely that the reverse is the situation here

I have hoped for ages for the Language Issue to be a political issue and equality to ve the norm and I know that there are a fair number of Labour Pary members who are as enthusiastic for Cymraeg as any Plaid Cymru, but they are often outnumbered and eventually bow to the majority some of who oppose equality for the Welsh Language.

Perhaps they should consider a group within the Labour Party to stand up for Cymraeg .

Indeed the Lib Dems and maybe the Tories who back the language to do the same.

As for Ukip? Well i doubt they could fill a Taxi with enthusiasts for Language equality.