MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the desire in Wales for the translation of the Licensing Act, 1892, into Welsh, he will reconsider his decision upon this point, and will authorise the issue of a certain number of copies of the Act in the Welsh language.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sNo, Sir! I hardly think that there is sufficient reason for taking this exceptional course. On the one hand a considerable portion of the Licensing Act is technical, and scarcely of popular interest, while on the other as regards those sections of it which have a distinct bearing on the general public they can be translated into Welsh and posted up, if thought desirable, by the police or other local authorities. If they do not do so, I will consider whether any action on my part can be taken.
MR. HERBERT ROBERTSI thank the right hon. Gentleman for the latter part of his reply. Is he aware that the precedent exists in the cases of the Local Government Acts of 1888 and 1894?
§ *MR. AKERS DOUGLASYes, I believe it is the fact that the Local Government Acts of 1888 and 1894 were translated, but it is not always done—for instance, the Welsh Sunday Closing Act of 1881 was not translated.