§ 19. Mr. JohnTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to receive the first report from the new Welsh Language Board.
§ The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Mr. Wyn Roberts)The Welsh Language Board will pass on its findings to my right hon. Friend as they emerge.
§ Mr. JohnGiven the discussions on the new Welsh Language Act and the wide consensus on what it should contain, will the Secretary of State place a six-month limit on the time in which the Welsh Language Board will report? Would it not be regarded as offensive if it were to continue indefinitely when the matters have already been discussed?
§ Mr. RobertsI cannot agree with the hon. Gentleman. He will know that the board is the outcome of a recommendation made by myself as head of a ministerial group which looked into the problem of legislation in connection with the language as well as other matters. As a result of that, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State set up the board. The board, in turn, has set up specialist sub-committees to look into different areas and issues related to the promotion and development of the language. One of the sub-committees, under the chairmanship of Winston Roddick QC, is looking at the legislative aspect.