MPs Call For Making Welsh an Official Language of the UK Parliament

Under the headline “Call for Welsh Language Speeches in Parliament – Welsh MPs Have Called for Greater Freedom to Conduct Debates in Parliament in the Welsh Language”, the BBC is reporting on a move by Members of the British Parliament (MP) representing constituencies in Wales to introduce procedural reforms so that the Welsh language is treated equally with English. 

MPs Paul Flynn, representing Newport – West and Jonathan Edwards, representing Carmarthen East and Dinefwr,  have called for Welsh language speeches when the topics at hand involve Welsh interests.  Further, that the Welsh Affairs and Welsh Grand Committee’s of Parliament should be officially bi-lingual.

Flynn is quoted calling for  “practical arrangements of reasonable value for the use of Welsh” and Edwards is quoted proposing to provide for Welsh-language speeches when Welsh business is discussed: "Surely the sittings of the Welsh Affairs Committee and the Welsh Grand Committee should be held bilingually, thereby making Welsh an official language of this Parliament…”.

Below is the full text of the related Press Release carried on the web site of the Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) under the headline “ Make Welsh an Official Language of the UK Parliament”:

Jonathan Edwards MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr has called for the Welsh language to be granted official status in the UK Parliament:

During Business Questions in the Commons this morning, Mr Edwards noted that he had realised during a meeting of the Welsh Grand Committee yesterday that nearly half of the MPs present were fluent Welsh speakers, and that they should have the right to debate and deliver speeches in Welsh should they wish to do so.

Mr Edwards said: "As the Welsh Grand Committee met in Westminster yesterday, I was struck by the number of Members who could speak Welsh.

"If the UK Parliament is to reflect the linguistic reality of the British state then Welsh should be granted official language status in Westminster. If Norman French has such status then surely the Welsh language should have the same!

"The Welsh Affairs Select Committee of which I am a member already has the right to take evidence in Welsh when meeting in Wales. There is no reason why this right shouldn't be extended wherever the committee meets.

"I believe that Committee members should also be able to question witnesses in Welsh during these evidence-gathering sessions.

"Plaid Cymru's Jill Evans MEP has worked tirelessly on a campaign to grant Welsh official language status in the European Parliament.

"Over the coming months Plaid Cymru MPs will reflect these efforts by fighting for the same right in the UK Parliament."

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-27325024 

http://www.partyofwales.org/news/2014/05/08/make-welsh-an-official-langu...