§ LORD MAELORMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any proposals are under consideration to mark the 50th anniversary of the Urdd Gobaith Cymru (Welsh League of Youth) particularly the Jubilee Festival on September 23.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (LORD ABERDARE)My Lords, I am pleased to say that in recognition of the valuable contribution made to Welsh life by Urdd Gobaith Cymru, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Wales is arranging with the Post Office for the great majority of letters posted in Wales from September 10 to 16 to bear a special descriptive slogan announcing the Urdd Festival at Llanuwchllyn, referred to by the noble Lord.
§ LORD MAELORMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that I never dreamt that the day would dawn when I, of all people, should feel bound to praise a Tory Government? Owing to my theological training I have always believed in the total depravity of Tory Governments, but I am sure the right reverend Prelates will be pleased to know that I have been converted this afternoon more to their way of thinking. May I take this opportunity to express my thanks in the language of Heaven by saying, Diolch yn fawr iawn. Do noble Lords want the 154 translation of that? After the encounter of the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor with members of the Welsh Society at Bangor on Saturday I am sure that he could translate it.
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord. It is never too late to learn, and I hope that he will continue to praise this Government in the future.