§ Mr. Geraint HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh speakers there are in Ceredigion; what were the corresponding figures for 1960, 1970 and 1980; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe most recent data available are from the 1981 census. Information on Welsh speakers in earlier years is also related to the dates of the census. The number of people aged three and over who were recorded as speaking Welsh in the 1961, 1971 and 1981 censuses was as follows:
Enumerated population speaking Welsh1 1961 238,500 1971 235,800 1981 35,200 1 The enumerated population consists of persons present at midnight on census night whether or not they were usually resident there. 2 Cardiganshire.