Oral Answers to Questions

Glyn Davies Excerpts

Thursday 8th May 2014 Commons Chamber

The Leader of the House was asked—

[Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire) (Con)]

1. What steps he is taking to promote use of the Welsh language in the business of the House.

[The Deputy Leader of the House of Commons (Tom Brake)]

Diolch—thank you. Members can use Welsh in the proceedings of the House in short extracts, but a translation for the benefit of non-Welsh speakers should be provided. The House agreed in 2001 to the recommendation of the Select Committee on Procedure that witnesses before Select Committees should be able to give evidence in Welsh.

[Glyn Davies]

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. On the civil service, Welsh-language legislation applies to every aspect of the work of the House, so will he reassure me that every Department is committed to working in a way that fully recognises its legal obligations in compliance with the Welsh Language Act 1993?

[Tom Brake]

I commend the hon. Gentleman for the work he does in promoting the Welsh language. I know that he recently held an important Westminster Hall debate on Welsh identity and, of course, the language played an important part in that debate. The Government are indeed committed to the Welsh language and are fully committed to providing Government services in the Welsh language where there is demand for them.