‘Welsh language should be treated same as English by tax authorities’
The Welsh language should be treated equally with English by the tax authorities the Archdruid of Wales said.
And Myrddin ap Dafydd also wants Gwynedd Council and other local authorities to abandon plans to close centres where intensive Welsh courses are held.
Addressing a group of Welsh learners at the Shw’mae Su’mae pavilion at the National Eisteddfod Mr ap Dafydd said commercial or education books are not subject to Value Added Tax.
But Welsh books are not considered educational or commercial by HM Customs and Excise and as a result are more expensive to buy.
The Archdruid, a director of
Llanrwst-based publishing company Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, said: “According to a survey of people’s habits in bookstores, 70% of customers buy books they didn’t know about when they walked into the store.
“That is, they go into a shop without knowing what they are looking for. Only they know they want a book. Discovering the exact book is an experience, a wonder, a joy. They leave the shop with a smile, in their possession of a new treasure.
“Is language discovery something like this? Finding treasure, opening doors, going to a new country? Even a new life? We should remember that books commercial or educational books do not have VAT.
“We should also see VAT on Welsh lessons eliminated so that the Welsh language is treated equally with English by the Inland Revenue.”
Welcoming the increasing numbers of people learning Welsh the Archdruid called for centres which immerse youngsters in the language to be retained.
He added: “We don’t want to hear yet another generation sadly saying in the future ‘We didn’t have the opportunity to learn Welsh’. We do not want to deprive any children today of their language.
“The Gwynedd Cabinet cannot say to any of the county’s children, ‘No, there will be no Immersion Centres for you in the future’.
“These Centres have done a great job since 1984. This is a scheme that has seen its value in other countries such as Switzerland and Catalonia.
“This is the only way to give every child the same opportunity so that they are all bilingual by the end of the primary phase.
“It is not about closing the centres but extending the practice to all counties in Wales.
“That is one positive action the Welsh Government can take if it is serious about the goal of a million speakers.
“The idea and practice of immersion needs to be spread and this is something we can all contribute to.”