§ 37. Major OWENasked the Minister of Health whether he will state the reasons why it has not been possible to comply with the request of the Lleyn Rural District Council that an inspector conversant with the Welsh language should be appointed to conduct the public local inquiry into the council's scheme for a water supply for the village of Chwilog?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREMy right hon. Friend is always prepared to arrange for the presence of a Welsh-speaking inspector where this is really necessary. My 342 right hon. Friend has not received information that difficulties will arise in this case.
§ Major OWENHas the Parliamentary Secretary forgotten that, in replying to the hon. Member for Flint (Mr. Llewellyn-Jones), he said that there were five inspectors available for holding these inquiries who were conversant with the Welsh language and that where an application was made a Welsh speaking inspector would be sent? Why, in the case of the Lleyn Rural Council who made such an application, has it been refused—in a purely Welsh speaking district?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREIt has not been found necessary in the past, but, if the hon. and gallant Member will see me about this case and convinces me that it is necessary, I will see that a Welsh speaking inspector is sent.
§ Major OWENIs it not the fact that in many inquiries in the past the Department has had to engage another official to act as interpreter to the inspector? Has it not occurred in this particular county? Why should public money be wasted in this way?
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESMay I ask who decides what is necessary in cases of this kind?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe usual consultations take place with the local authority, but there are parts of Wales where the preference is for an English inspector.
§ Major OWENIs it not the case that the local authority in this instance specifically asked for a Welsh speaking inspector, and that the Department in London, pursuing its usual policy of ignoring everything Welsh, refused the request?