Parents won't be asked why they chose Welsh language
BBCParents will not be asked why they choose Welsh medium education for their children after a council responded to concerns from the Welsh language commissioner and opposition councillors.
Cabinet members of Pembrokeshire council voted to amend the controversial proposal, with the specific reference to the Welsh language being removed.
Education officers will instead explore the demand for school places based on language provision, learning outcomes, transport, facilities and additional learning needs.
Deputy leader Paul Miller, who made the original proposal and the revised amendment accused the opposition leader Huw Murphy of "creating division in Pembrokeshire".
He also claimed the Mr Murphy had tried to portray the administration as "anti-Welsh."
The new proposal was passed unanimously by six cabinet members on Wednesday.
The virtual meeting was not attended by three cabinet members, including the councillor responsible for education, Guy Woodham, and Plaid Cymru's Rhys Sinnett.
Mr Murphy responded, saying the independent group was "disappointed" the cabinet did not follow advice from a council officer and the Welsh language commissioner.
He claimed the cabined "ignored the views of the schools O&S Committee, the Welsh language commissioner, Mark Drakeford, Welsh government minister for the Welsh language and in all likelihood the views of the first minister," he said.
Another cabinet member, Jacob Williams, criticised Welsh Language Commissioner, Efa Gruffudd-Jones, claiming that she had "jumped the gun".
He said she should be "embarrassed" about a letter to the council claiming the amendment could send "negative" messages to parents who were considering Welsh medium education for their children.
He also suggested she had not demonstrated that she was an "impartial authority."
But a former head of the Welsh language board, Meirion Prys Jones, said it was "entirely appropriate" that the Welsh language commissioner had intervened in the row.
"The role of the Welsh language commissioner is to look at local authorities, central government and decide whether they're actually implementing their own plans in terms of developing Welsh medium education," he said.
"It would be strange really if the commissioner didn't comment and didn't write to the local authority saying, 'what are you doing here, this doesn't look to be in line with government policy'.
Mr Murphy accused Mr Williams of making an "astonishing attack on the integrity of the Welsh language commissioner".
Council leader Jon Harvey said the amended proposal was "not unreasonable" and that the authority wouldn't "do anything that wasn't legal".
"This seems to have has been blown up to be a situation where we as a cabinet, are being perceived as anti Welsh or anti Welsh language, and that is certainly not the case," he said.
"We have invested heavily in Welsh language provision. We are all very supportive of that.
"All we are asking for is the director of education to explore whether we can get a little more data on the subject."
Ms Efa Gruffudd-Jones said local authorities are expected to provide more choice for parents to be able to choose Welsh medium education.
She added: "The successful Eisteddfod proclamation ceremony in Narberth on Saturday reflects the positive work done in Pembrokeshire in relation to Welsh medium education and hopefully that can be developed in future."