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Procedure Committee welcomes Government-backed debate on use of Welsh language in Welsh Grand Committee

22 February 2017

The Government has strongly backed a report from the House of Commons Procedure Committee on the use of Welsh in Westminster sittings of the Welsh Grand Committee.

The Committee considered the matter following a request from Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones and found that there were no insurmountable technical barriers to English and Welsh both being used at such sittings.

Responding to the Committee's report, Leader of the House David Lidington MP said that the government would now bring forward—and support—a motion modifying the existing rules on the use of Welsh and allowing for simultaneous interpretation between both languages.

Chair's comment

Procedure Committee Chair, Charles Walker OBE MP said:

"I am delighted that not only has the Government agreed with the Committee that this is an important matter for debate, but that it intends to support it in government time.

I look forward to the Government introducing a motion to allow the House to decide on the small but significant question of allowing Westminster proceedings of the Welsh Grand Committee to be carried out in both English and Welsh.

Although this in no way calls into question the long established principle that the language of the House of Commons is English, it recognises the unique status of the Welsh language and the contribution it makes to the cultural make-up of the United Kingdom as a whole."

Further information

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