§ MR. WILLIAM JONES (Carnarvon, Arfon)I beg to ask the Attorney-General whether in courts of law in Wales there is a legal obligation to permit witnesses in all cases to give their evidence in Welsh, upon their declaring that they habitually use that language and do not feel competent to express themselves fully in English?
SIR OSBORNE MORGAN (Denbighshire, E.)asked whether the right hon. and learned Gentleman was aware that the question of Welsh speaking witnesses being allowed to give their evidence in Welsh was discussed more than a quarter of a century ago in the House of Commons and that the House then unanimously passed a Resolution that, as far as possible, even County Court Judges holding, their Courts in Welsh districts should as far as possible he selected from persons conversant with the Welsh language?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (SIR RICHARD WEBSTER, Isle of Wight)The supplementary Question does not relate to the same point, but there is no doubt that it was considered by the House very desirable that Welsh County Court Judges should understand the Welsh language, and that a knowledge of the Welsh language should be considered a necessary qualification. In answer to 307 the Question upon the Paper, I have to state that, if a witness declares that he does not understand or cannot express himself in English, he is entitled to be examined through an interpreter, but if in the course of his examination the Judge is satisfied that the witness understands and can express himself in English, he has a discretion to direct the examination to proceed in English. It is a common practice for an interpreter to remain present in case the witness desires a question to be repeated in his language.