‘Store should be made to supply Welsh signs and services’ – Plaid
BANKS and retail outlets like the Trago Mills store in Merthyr Tydfil should have a legal obligation to provide services and signage in Welsh, according to Plaid Cymru.
Sian Gwenllian, the party’s equalities spokeswoman, has announced that Plaid will oppose the Welsh Government’s forthcoming Welsh Language Bill, which it sees as watering down current law.
Last week it emerged that Bruce Robertson, the chairman of Trago Mills, had written a letter to Welsh Language Commissioner Meri Huws in which he compared Welshlanguage signage to “visual clutter” and made disparaging comments about Welsh-medium education.
Plaid Cymru has released correspondence between Ms Gwenllian and Mr Robertson. In a letter to him, she said: “Between 60% and 75% of the world’s population is bilingual. People who only speak one language are in the minority. Bilingualism and multilingualism has been shown to have many social, psychological and health benefits, including faster stroke recovery and delayed onset of dementia.
“In Wales children who study through the medium of Welsh do just as well, if not better, in school than children who study through the medium of English. In fact, external examination results at Welsh-medium secondary schools are consistently high, and on average, pupils who receive Welsh-medium education achieve higher grades in examinations than their counterparts who receive English-medium education. Therefore your ‘misgivings’ that being taught more than one language somehow disadvantages children and the wider education system in any way are unfounded.”
In his response, Mr Robertson stated: “I do earnestly hope that multi-lingual ability does deliver the health benefits cited, as that would be wonderful, not least in a [sic] aging population and premature senility is a huge concern: at a tender 65 I should know... For myself, I suspect a sensible diet combined with a healthy life style and active mind kept busy with topics other than language is another avenue to the same end.”
He ended his letter with an attack on whoever was responsible for leaking the letter he wrote to the Welsh Language Commissioner, stating: “[It] is not indicative of any etiquette I have previously encountered, and as for the offices of the language lot, I suspect there might be more structural integrity in a colander.”
Confirming that Plaid will be opposing the Welsh Language Bill, Ms Gwenllian said: “The Trago Mills saga – the latest in a series of attacks on our language – shows clearly that the legislation needs to be strengthened, not watered down.
“Plaid Cymru believes that the current Welsh Language Act needs to be reformed in order to include more of the private sector. At present, it is possible to legislate in the telecommunications, water, electricity and transport sectors, although the present government does not intend to do so. But no rules can be imposed on supermarkets, banks etc.
“Plaid Cymru calls on the Government to delay before introducing a new bill and to submit evidence to show how a new bill would contribute to the goal of creating a million Welsh-speakers.”