Mr. loan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has yet reached a decision on the subject of biligual road traffic signs in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MorrisI intend to continue the policy announced under the previous administration of moving towards the progressive introduction of bilingual traffic signs in Wales. The pace of progress in this field will be governed by the availability of resources and the competing claim for funds for other aspects of Welsh language policy.
As a first step it has been necessary to decide upon the order of languages on bilingual signs. A further report on this matter was commissioned by my predecessor from the Transport and Road Research Laboratory. This has now been received and copies are in the Library. The report reveals significantly increased reading times for the great majority of drivers when Welsh is placed above English on bilingual signs. I have decided therefore that on road safety grounds these signs should bear English legend above Welsh.
Future contracts for signs on trunk roads will provide for the signs to be in a bilingual form and there will be a phased programme for the replacement of existing signs on these roads. Pending the making of the necessary regulations I hope that local highway authorities will follow a similar procedure on their roads. I shall be writing to them about this shortly.
Where there is both a Welsh and an English version of a place name in common use, both will be shown. In deciding whether or not there are two such versions, and what is the correct form of each name, I shall be advised by a committee which I have set up under the chairmanship of Professor T. J. Morgan, Vice-Principal of University College, Swansea.
490WThe introduction of bilingual road signs is a measure to implement the policy of equal validity for the Welsh language, but I stress that it is only one of a range of policies being followed by the Government to further the cause of the Welsh language.