HC Deb 23 November 1967 vol 754 cc396-7W
Mr. Probert

asked the Postmaster-General what further steps he is taking to cater for the needs of Welsh-speaking customers.

Mr. Gwynfor Evans

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the refusal of the magistrates at Bangor and Blaenau Ffestiniog to fine or demand costs from persons found guilty of using television and radio sets without a licence but who had offered to pay for the licences on condition that they were published in the Welsh language, whether he will make a statement of his policy for bilingual forms and licences in Wales.

Mr. Edward Short

Since the passing of the Welsh Language Act I have been considering to what extent it would be practicable to extend the use of the Welsh language on the principal public forms (including licences) handled by post offices in Wales. In doing so, I have to take into account, among other things:

  1. (i) whether it would be reasonable for the additional cost involved to be borne by the users of services concerned, or the taxpayers as a whole;
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  2. (ii) the problems which might arise in dealing with those types of forms which are processed centrally;
  3. (iii) the complications at our counters where forms completed in Welsh might have to be handled by non-Welsh-speaking staff.