§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will arrange for Welsh Members who so wish to meet formally with the Welsh Language Council.
§ Mr. John MorrisIt has always been open to any hon. Member to approach the council direct.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many reports have been produced by the Welsh Language Council; and what was their total printing cost.
§ Mr. John MorrisThree: £622.89.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the total annual budget of the Welsh Language Council;
(2) what was the total expense of running the Welsh Language Council in each year since its inception.
§ Mr. John MorrisI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) on 29th June 1976.—[Vol. 914, c.144.]
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many times he has met the Welsh Language Council.
§ Mr. John MorrisOnce. I have also had meetings with the chairman.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to reappoint the Welsh Language Council members for a further term; and, if so, why.
§ Mr. John MorrisI will make an announcement in due course.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many recommendations by the Welsh Language Council have been made to the Government since 1st March 1974; and how many have been (a) accepted, (b) rejected and (c) are awaiting a decision.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe council's reports contain a substantial number of recommendations, many of which concern bodies other than the Government. I 451W have the recommendations constantly in view in considering my policy for the Welsh language.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many times the Welsh Language Council has met since its inception.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe full council has met 27 times and each of its two panels 30 times.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total expenditure by the Government since 1st March 1974 on implementing each recommendation of the Welsh Language Council.
§ Mr. John MorrisGrants to Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin which were £5,500 in 1973–74 have been increased from £15,000 in 1974–75 to £24,000 in 1975–76 and £36,200 in 1976–77. Other recommendations entailing public expenditure are being kept under active review in present economic circumstances.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many overseas visits have been undertaken by the Welsh Language Council or its members in each year since its inception.
§ Mr. John MorrisNone.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will arrange to publish a full report of the work of the Welsh Language Council to date.
§ Mr. John MorrisNo. The council produces reports on particular subjects, and these are published.