HC Deb 26 November 1963 vol 685 cc34-5W
39. Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will make a statement on his policy with regard to the recommendations in the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire's Report on the Welsh Language Today, Command Paper No. 2198.

Sir K. Joseph

Yes. I should like first of all to pay tribute to Professor Richard Aaron, the former Chairman of the Council, and to Members who served under him in preparing this valuable and well-documented report on a subject of such deep interest to the people of Wales. The Government recognise and sympathise with the strong feeling in Wales that the Welsh language should be supported and will continue to make their own contribution to this through the education service and by other means.

Most recommendations in the Report are addressed, not to the Government, but to others concerned with the language in Wales, and the Report recognises that the need is not so much for legislation and direction as for the creation of an atmosphere of goodwill in which the language can flourish. I do not doubt that people who care for the language will readily respond to the Council's suggestions since the continuing vitality of the language must largely depend upon their efforts.

The question of according official status to the Welsh language, in the terms defined in the report, is to some extent bound up with the investigation into the legal status of the language being carried out by the committee which I have set up under the Chairmanship of Sir David Hughes Parry and I shall look forward to receiving the Committee's Report. I shall then be able to consider with my colleagues any legal disabilities which may be found to exist. As the Council points out, the Welsh language can already be used in administration in Wales in a wide variety of ways and without financial or other obstacles. I shall certainly be prepared to examine any positive hindrances to the use of the Welsh language in administration in appropriate circumstances which are brought to my notice.

I have taken note of the Council's observations about the Government grant to assist Welsh language publishing. I have recently explained to the House that the Government's present intention is that the grant should continue up to 1965 and I am very willing to discuss the position with the publishers next year, when there will be a better idea how successful this grant has been in securing its objective.

I have no doubt that the Council's observations concerning the use of the Welsh language in education have already been noted by my right hon. Friend.

Finally, with regard to the Council's recommendation that a permanent body be set up officially to care for the interests of the language, this clearly needs time for careful reflection and examination and I should like to consider it further in the light of opinion expressed in and outside this House.