The assembly's vision for the future of the Welsh language has been unveiled by Culture, Language and Sport Minister Jenny Randerson.

The policy statement, called A Bilingual Future, is divided into three sections - a national action plan, language and community, and language and the individual.

Jenny Randerson is outlining a vision for the future

Billed as the most significant ever public announcement concerning Welsh, it comes as feelings concerning the survival of the language in community life run high.

Ms Randerson has rejected claims she has shown a "timid" approach to the issues of housing and planning issues, which critics argue have a crucial impact on the language in communities.

She said the Welsh Assembly Government is preparing what will be the first national action plan for the Welsh language, which will provide 'clear strategic direction and political leadership on Welsh language policy and provide the appropriate financial support'.

She said: "Everyone in Wales should have the same basic opportunities to acquire and use the language, irrespective of where they live."

Regional focus

But she insisted there would need to be local flexibility. She said: "What's suitable for Maentwrog is unlikely to be appropriate for Monmouth".

Ms Randerson said the Welsh Language Board will be expected to be more regional in its approach and focus increasingly on promoting and developing the language at a community level.

It terms of communities and the language, she said the assembly government believed the solution for primarily Welsh-speaking, and other disadvantaged communities in Wales is to create economically and socially sustainable communities.

Ms Randerson also emphasised the need for the individuals to have access to ways of learning the language.

She said: "If Wales is to be a truly bilingual country we must ensure that we not only enable individuals to learn Welsh, but that we also maximise opportunities to use the language."

"Language choice"

"We will work to extend entitlement to Welsh-medium education and ensure support for young people in Wales is structured around an entitlement for all young people to a range of services in the language of their choice."

"A Bilingual Future" will be followed later in the year by a more detailed plan following the budget planning process