§ 1. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest figures available for the number of people speaking the Welsh language; what are the equivalent figures for 1950, 1960, and 1970; what steps he is taking to further the speaking of Welsh; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. John Morris)I will with permission, publish the figures in the Official Report. Between 1951 and 1971 the number of Welsh speakers fell by over 170,000. This Government have taken and continue to take a wide and significant range of measures to support and encourage the speaking of Welsh.
§ Mr. RobertsDoes my right hon. and learned Friend accept that, in view of the evidence that the number of those speaking the Welsh language is falling consistently, in spite of the strenuous efforts being made by the Government, much more emphasis should be laid on informal methods of supporting the language? Does he agree that the most important thing to do is to stimulate an interest in the language among young people, possibly in the first instance by extending radio and television coverage in Welsh?
§ Mr. MorrisI certainly would not dissent in any way from the helpful comment of my hon. Friend. The Government are committed to the fourth channel. It is however, a matter of resources. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has set up a working party to consider the issue further. It is helpful to note that, although some of the figures are very unhappy, there is a higher proportion of those in the 10 to 14 year age group speaking Welsh. That is indicative of the effort made in the schools.
§ Mr. Geraint HowellsWhile I appreciate the efforts made by the Secretary of State in the past few years to safeguard the Welsh language, may I ask whether he is in a position to announce whether the fourth television channel will be allocated to Wales? Does he agree that all the programmes on such a channel should be in Welsh?
§ Mr. MorrisThat is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. Although there is a high degree of agreement as regards the apportionment of the fourth channel, a significant minority would be against segregating the Welsh language on one channel. The Government are committed to this.
§ Mr. D. E. ThomasWill the Secretary of State tell us whether the body which he set up three years ago, the Welsh Language Council, to undertake detailed policy-making in respect of the Welsh language still exists? If it is still in existence, may I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman to tell us whether he has received a long report from the council which arose as a result of extensive public consultations in Wales? What action does he propose to take about the report of the Council, A gawn ni farn yr Ysgrifennyd Gwladol yn faun ar yr adroddiad yma?
§ Mr. MorrisThe hon. Gentleman asks for my opinion on the report of the Welsh Language Council. The council's activity has come to an end. That was announced during January. I have received its report. It is now with the printers and will be published during May.
§ Mr. Ifor DaviesDoes my right hon. and learned Friend appreciate that he deserves the highest praise for his recent announcement concerning assistance to the National Eisteddford, which has done so much to sustain and further the Welsh language? Is he aware that the development of Welsh primary schools has done a great deal to further the language, particularly in Glamorgan? Will he give an assurance that he will give every support to such schools and will afford them priority over expenditure in other directions such as the provision of bilingual road signs?
§ Mr. MorrisI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his remarks concerning the 4 grant of £275,000 to the National Eisteddfod which has been welcomed throughout Wales. The money gives the Eisteddfod vital breathing space to consider its situation and its future. I am most encouraged by the response of the authorities to the remarks I have made. I have mentioned earlier the increase in those speaking Welsh in the 10 to 14 year age group. This shows the effect which the schools have. I have given the schools every encouragement. I have also given particular encouragement to Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin, the Welsh language playgroup movement, the grant to which has been increased almost ninefold since I took office.
§ Sir Raymond GowerThe right hon. and learned Gentleman said that the Government had done a great deal. Will he go a bit further and say that most post-war Governments have done a considerable amount in this area? Can he say whether the grant to the Eisteddfod is a once-for-all grant or will it be looked at again?
§ Mr. MorrisI do not dissent from what the hon. Gentleman has said. I think that all Governments have done a great deal in the furtherance of the language. I want to place that on record.
The grant to the Eisteddfod is to meet the present situation. I foresee that it is a once-for-all grant from the Government because the normal course of assistance for organisations of this kind is through the Arts Council.
Following are the figures:The latest figures are from the 1971 census, when 542,425 people were able to speak Welsh. The equivalent earlier figures are from the censuses of 1951 and 1961, when the numbers able to speak Welsh were, respectively, 714,686 and 656,002.