§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current use made in Wales of the Welsh versions of official forms and documents which have been translated under the provisions of the Welsh Language Act 1967.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasIn the main, the use made of the Welsh versions of official forms and documents is small. In a few 23W instances the number of Welsh forms issued as a percentage of the corresponding English versions is in the region of 10 per cent., but in most it is less than 2 per cent.
§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider setting up a non-political body to co-ordinate present efforts to encourage the use of the Welsh language in Wales.
§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now take steps to set up an official institution to look after the interests of the Welsh language and to stimulate interest in Welsh culture.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI still have under consideration the proposals which have been made to that effect.
§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the approximate annual total cost to Government Departments of translating documents into Welsh.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThis information is not readily available.
§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give financial assistance to local authorities in Wales to assist them in the translation into Welsh of forms, documents and signs.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasNo; but in so far as local authorities receive a rate support grant, this contributes towards the cost of any translations which they may undertake.