LANGUAGE campaigners called to make the Senedd subject to Welsh Language Standards on Friday after parliamentarians decided not to comply with parts of the scheme.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith (Welsh Language Society) made the demand after publication of the Senedd’s annual report on the implementation of its Official Languages Scheme for 2025-26.

The report showed the Senedd “made a decision” not to comply with elements of the plan.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s Aled Thomas said: “This confirmation that the body which provides services to the Senedd made a deliberate decision not to comply with its statutory Official Languages Scheme during the last Senedd is the latest evidence that the unique arrangements of the Official Languages Act are not fit for purpose.

“No other body subject to the Welsh language standards — as the rest of our public sector is — would have been able to behave in this way without being held to account.

“We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Llywydd [speaker] to get confirmation of the timetable and the next steps of their review of the legal framework, which must lead to making the Senedd subject to the Welsh Language Standards.”

The Senedd Commission, which runs the parliament, said that in the closing months of 2025 there was huge demand on its translation service, particularly after a number of staff absences due to illness.

The Commission said it had decided that some internal briefing documents for Senedd Members in committee meetings would be provided in English only, but with bilingual versions of the questions.