§ MR. THOMAS ELLIS (Merionethshire)I beg, Sir, to ask the President of the Local Government Board when the Welsh version of the Local Government Act, 1888, will be published; also whether his attention has been directed to the published opinion of the Attorney General that the proceedings of the Welsh County Councils must be carried on and recorded in the English language; whether he is aware that the section of the Statute on which this opinion is based enacts that no person or persons that use the Welsh language shall have or enjoy any manner of office or fees within Wales upon pain of forfeiting the same offices or fees unless he or they exercise the English language; and whether he intends to enforce the provisions of this Statute?
§ * Mr. Mr. RITCHIEThe whole of the translation of the Local Government 964 Act into Welsh has been completed; but there has been some difficulty in the printing. I am unable to say precisely when the translation will be issued, but I will press it on as rapidly as possible. My attention has not been drawn to an opinion of the Attorney General to the effect that the proceedings of the Welsh County Councils must be carried on and recorded in English. But I am aware that there is a section in the 27th Henry VIII., cap. 26, which contains a provision to the effect that no person or persons that use the Welsh language should have or enjoy any manner of office or fees within Wales upon pain of forfeiting the same offices or fees, unless he or they exercised the English language. I am not at present aware of any case in which it would be necessary for me to exercise any power I may possess in this matter. If any case is brought under my notice, I must, of course, consider all the circumstances of it.
§ MR. THOMAS ELLISWill the Attorney General state whether in his opinion offices under the Local Government Act would be forfeited?
THE ATTORNEY GENERALNO difficulty has arisen in Wales on similar matters, but at the same time no legal question has been raised.
§ MR. J. CALDWELL (Glasgow, St. Rollox)In view of the forthcoming Local Government Bill for Scotland, will the right hon. Gentleman arrange that it shall be translated into Gaelic?
§ The Question was not answered.