§ 52. Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that the district auditor and his assistant for North Wales are able to read, write, and speak the Welsh language, he will state for what reasons he has issued a communication to the local authorities in North Wales requiring that their minutes shall be written in the English language?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)No general communication has been issued. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a letter which has been sent to those authorities who have sought my right hon. Friend's advice.
§ Mr. GRENFELLIs the general letter that has been sent out designed to discourage the use of Welsh by these authorities?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEARENo, Sir; certainly not. When my hon. Friend reads the letter he will see that from the information he has been given he is misinformed.
§ 53. Mr. GRENFELLasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that an application for a loan was recently made by the Deudraeth Council for the purpose of a scheme of water supply for the village of Gellilydan; that all the residents of the village are Welsh-speaking; that an appeal for an inquiry by the local authority to be conducted in Welsh was refused and that the local authority decided, in consequence, to proceed without an inquiry or a loan; and if he proposes to take any further steps in this matter?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREMy right hon. Friend is always prepared to make arrangements to meet any difficulty which might be caused by conducting the proceedings at an inquiry in English, but in this case he was not satisfied that there need have been any difficulty. Since 33 the council have withdrawn their application for a loan, no further steps seem to be needed in the matter.
§ Mr. GRENFELLWould not the Minister consider paying a compliment to these people, who do their business properly, by giving them the privilege of carrying on their business in their own language?
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESWho was it that decided that there was no difficulty in this matter?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe information we had was that, whereas the minority could not understand Welsh, there was no evidence that the majority could not understand English.
§ Mr. LLEWELLYN-JONESIs the Minister not aware that in many parts of North Wales, unless an Inspector understands Welsh, a large number of witnesses cannot express their views before an inquiry, and, even if they are in a minority, is not a minority entitled to protection?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREIn a case like that, whore obviously Welsh must be understood by an inspector, an inspector who knew Welsh would be sent.