HC Deb 20 May 1969 vol 784 c58W
Mr. Gwynfor Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Wales upon what evidence he bases his assessment that 80 per cent. of the people of Wales do not speak Welsh.

Mr. George Thomas

In referring toeight out of ten of the Welsh people I was speaking in general terms. At the time of the 1961 census (which provides the latest figures), 26 per cent. of the population were recorded as being able to speak Welsh, leaving 74 per cent. who were not so recorded.