§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGE (Carnarvon Boroughs)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether there are any Post Office Regulations forbidding the use of a Welsh word as a registered telegraphic address; and, if so, will he state the reasons for such rules.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThere is no regulation directed specially against the Welsh language; but in view of certain practical difficulties the Department follows the regulations of the International Convention relating to code which prescribe words of ten letters drawn from certain languages; and these languages do not include Welsh. As there is no context in abbreviated addresses to help the telegraphists in their transmission it is extremely desirable that the words selected for such addresses should be words which can be telegraphed everywhere without difficulty; but, if the hon. Member knows of any case where inconvenience has been caused by the rejection of a Welsh word, the Postmaster General will be glad to consider whether the word can be accepted for registration without undue risk of error or difficulty in the transmission of the telegrams.