Our annual reports to the Welsh Language Commissioner

Published: 30 September 2023
Last updated: 9 October 2023

This is Ofcom's sixth annual report (covering 2022-23) on its compliance with the statutory Welsh language legislation for the Welsh language Commissioner.

This Annual Report sets out our activity and progress in relation to Welsh language legislation compliance, covering the year 2022-2023.[1]

We remain resolute in our commitment to promoting the Welsh language and enabling consumers and citizens to interact with Ofcom in their preferred language – be that Welsh or English. We have achieved this in a way that is proportionate and consistent with our existing duties.

The Welsh language Standards legislation was issued by the Welsh Language Commissioner to Ofcom via its compliance notice in January 2017.   This included 141 Standards, which provided the framework enabling us to increase our work in Welsh, considering the impact of our policy making on the needs of Welsh language speakers and the manner in which we carry out our market research.

We welcome the appointment of Efa Gruffudd Jones as Welsh Language Commissioner from January 2023 and were pleased to have an initial introductory meeting with her, early in her tenure. Separately, we accompanied senior colleagues from our Communications team to a meeting with Efa. We consider our interaction with the Commissioner to be important for our own Welsh language development and for the promotion of the Welsh language as a whole, and look forward to interacting further to this end in the coming year.


[1] September 2022-September 2023.

Full report

Ofcom's annual report to the Welsh Language Commissioner 2022-23 (PDF, 260.0 KB)

Ofcom’s Welsh language podcast

This is Ofcom's fifth annual report (covering 2021-22) on its compliance with the statutory Welsh language legislation for the Welsh language Commissioner.

The Standards have allowed Ofcom to build on our work in Welsh since they were introduced in 2017. When producing our Welsh language communications, we tailor our approach to ensure that the content is relevant to our audiences in Wales and communicated in an engaging way.

We remain committed to promoting the Welsh language and enabling people to interact with Ofcom in their preferred language – whether that is Welsh or English.

Over the past year we have:

Full report

Ofcom’s annual report for the Welsh Language Commissioner 2021-22 (PDF, 246.0 KB)

This is Ofcom's fourth annual report (covering 2020-21) on its compliance with the statutory Welsh Language Standards to the Welsh Language Commissioner.

The Standards have allowed Ofcom to build on our work in Welsh since they were introduced in 2017.

We remain committed to promoting the Welsh language and enabling people to interact with Ofcom in their preferred language – whether that is Welsh or English. We’ve achieved this in a way that’s proportionate and consistent with our existing duties.

Over the past year, we have:

  • appointed a Welsh language Associate in October 2020 to support our Senior Welsh language Advisor
  • translated over 500,000 words into Welsh, including key publications such as Media Nations Wales, Small Screen, Big Debate Review Statement, Connected Nations Wales, Ofcom's Annual Report on the BBC 2020
  • produced several Welsh language videos, which we've shared on social media, including our broadcast complaints video below
  • launched our Welsh language matters online hub, including a new video promoting our services to Welsh speakers
  • launched a bilingual monthly consumer e-newsletter for subscribers.

Full report

Ofcom’s Annual Report for the Welsh Language Commissioner 2020-21 %asset_summary_225551%

This is Ofcom's third annual report (covering 2019-20) on its compliance with the statutory Welsh Language Standards to the Welsh Language Commissioner.

The Standards have allowed Ofcom to build on our work in Welsh since they were introduced in 2017.

Ofcom takes its obligations in relation to the Welsh language extremely seriously and treats the Welsh and English languages based on equality.

Over the past year, we have:

  • produced Welsh language versions of key documents such as Small Screen: Big Debate – a five-year review of Public Service Broadcasting (2014-18) ; Ofcom's Annual Report;  Connected Nation Wales, Media Nation Wales and the BBC Annual Report
  • launched a new Welsh language website, Small Screen Big Debate;
  • provided a range of bespoke resources in Welsh, including our new Stay Connected campaign
  • produced several Welsh language videos, including our ‘Online Nation – I Create’ video.

Full report

Ofcom's annual report for the Welsh Language Commissioner 2019-2020 (PDF, 392.9 KB)

This is Ofcom's second annual report (covering 2018-19) on its compliance with the statutory Welsh Language Standards to the Welsh Language Commissioner.

The Standards have allowed Ofcom to build on our work in Welsh since they were introduced in 2017.

Ofcom takes its obligations in relation to the Welsh language extremely seriously and treats the Welsh and English languages on the basis of equality.

Over the past year, we have:

Full report

Ofcom's annual report for the Welsh Language Commissioner (PDF, 264.0 KB)

Ofcom has submitted its first annual report (covering 2017-18) on its compliance with the statutory Welsh Language Standards to the Welsh Language Commissioner.

The Standards have allowed Ofcom to build on our work in Welsh since they were introduced in 2017.

Ofcom takes its obligations in relation to the Welsh language extremely seriously and treats the Welsh and English languages on the basis of equality.  

Over the past year, we have:

  • produced Welsh language versions of key documents such as Connected Nation, Media Nation, Annual Report and a report on Representation and Portrayal on BBC Television.
  • launched a Welsh-language Twitter account, @OfcomCymraeg, to help engage with Welsh speakers; and
  • provided a range of bespoke resources in Welsh, including videos and apps for checking broadband and mobile reception.

Our first annual report to the Welsh Language Commissioner is an interactive digital document which you can view below. This format enables Ofcom to showcase its Welsh language activities in a visual and engaging way.

See an executive summary of the report (PDF, 185.4 KB). The full Annual report is available in Welsh only.

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