§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will draw up a comprehensive Welsh language plan aiming at securing a reversal in the decline in the number able to speak the language, ensuring the effectiveness of official policy towards the equal status of Welsh and English in Wales, and facilitating every child in Wales to be bilingual by the age of 11 years.
§ Mr. John MorrisI have the wellbeing of the Welsh language constantly under review, with the assistance of the Council for the Welsh Language. Both personally and officially I shall continue to support the Welsh language, but the future of our inheritance is in the hands of the Welsh people. I firmly believe, and it is increasingly recognised, that a continuing decline in the use of Welsh would be a great loss to our cultural traditions.