HC Deb 30 January 1969 vol 776 cc1504-5
16. Mr. Gwynfor Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for increasing the financial assistance given to publishing books in the Welsh language.

Mr. George Thomas

The financial assistance given by the Government to help the publication of books in the Welsh language was increased by 50 per cent. in 1966 and I have no immediate plans for a further increase.

Mr. Evans

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is still a miserably small sum, no bigger than the sum given by the Government to assist a very wealthy brewery company to rebuild a public house in Swansea, and that this shows how low in the Government's priorities are the language and literature of Wales?

Mr. Thomas

Once again, I am sorry to have to be the one to correct the hon. Gentleman, but it so happens that the amount is four times the help which was given in the instance to which he refers. He has not yet brought one correct fact before the House.

Mr. Anderson

To assist the House, could my right hon. Friend give the comparable figure of Welsh Office assistance to books published in the English language?

Mr. Thomas

It would not be very large.