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The main group representing Welsh language activists has asked National Assembly Presiding Officer Elin Jones to investigate concerns that employees of the body have been declined the right to speak Welsh at work.

In August we highlighted the case of an employee of the Assembly Commission who left his job after being told he could not insist on speaking to his manager in Welsh.

The employee left with a cash payout, but was forced to sign a gagging clause, meaning he could not speak out about the matter.

At the time, a friend of the employee told us: “What happened to my friend is scandalous, and the Assembly has behaved in a truly shocking and hypocritical way.

“This is a terrible example for the Assembly to set to other employers in Wales.”

Now the former employee’s friend has raised concerns arising from an information disclosure to Cymdeithas yr Iath, the Welsh Language Society.

In the disclosure, the Assembly Commission claimed its human resources department had not sought or issued advice on language rights for employees.

However, during the employee’s grievance hearing, an Assembly Commission manager stated: “The Official Languages Scheme (2013) sets out in a statement of ambition that ‘everyone has the right to interact with the Assembly in the official language of their choice’.

“I have sought advice on this and the ‘right to interact’ is intended to refer to members of the public and to AMs and their support staff, not to members of staff.”

The former employee’s friend said: “This discrepancy between what was said in the grievance hearing and what was disclosed to Cymdeithas yr Iaith is very unsatisfactory.

“Both statements cannot be right. Either the disclosure was inaccurate or the information provided in the grievance hearing was inaccurate.”

Cymdeithas: 'We expect her to get to the bottom of it'

Manon Elin, rights spokesperson for Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, said: “We would certainly be extremely concerned if the Assembly hasn’t been completely open with us about the right of staff to speak Welsh.

“As our national democratic body, they should keep to the highest standards in terms of transparency and openness.

“We will now be writing to the new Llywydd asking her to investigate the allegations. It’s only fair for us to say as well that we have seen a significant improvement in terms of giving the Welsh language priority since the new Llywydd was elected, the behaviour of the body under her predecessor is not her fault, but we do expect her to get to the bottom of it.”

A spokesman for the Assembly Commission said a response would be sent to Cymdeithas yr Iaith in due course.