Welsh overlooked by Swyddfa Gartref*
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
The Home Office has not included the Welsh language on ID cards because the words are considered too long to fit on the cards.
This is despite the Home Office saying that it “has adopted the principle that in the conduct of public business and the administration of justice in Wales, it will treat the English and Welsh languages on a basis of equality.”
Wales Online reports:
Despite Welsh being used on driving licences and passports, the language was not used on the design of ID cards, which are already being issued to foreign nationals.
Junior Home Office minister Meg Hillier told MPs yesterday: “It’s not as straightforward as it may seem. We will make a final decision in advance of the high-volume roll-out in 2011-12.
“One of the other challenges is the length of the Welsh language – you have difficulty just fitting in the words on a very small ID card. But we are sensitive to these issues.”
Of course, the sensitive (and sensible) thing to do would be to scrap the intrusive ID cards scheme altogether.
You can sign the Liberal Democrats’ petition against ID cards here.
*That’s Welsh for “Home Office”
