Plaid Hywel Williams MP has today (Tuesday) slammed the UK government’s stubborn refusal to press ahead with plans for bilingual juries in Wales.

Citing Canada which has bilingual juries when necessary, Mr Williams said that the decision showed the government’s lack of ambition to even try, and compared it with the forward-thinking, inclusive approach to the Welsh language of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Hywel williamsMr Williams laid Private Members Bill to this effect, which if passed would have introduced bilingual juries in Wales. This will now not have UK Government support as it passes through Parliament. He said:

“Today’s announcement is deeply disappointing. After years of delays, the UK Government has rejected the very concept based on some rather spurious grounds.

“I believe that this decision was made many months ago because the government has failed to show any real reasons why bilingual juries cannot be allowed. Meanwhile, countries such as Canada for example are well ahead of the UK.

“The government’s argument is that the introduction of a bilingual jury would remove the principle of random jury selection. What they have ignored is that there is already a language requirement – to speak English – enshrined in law. They are happy to have an exception for English, but won’t do it to allow Welsh speakers to be tried by their peers.

“This decision is a very backwards step. Many people feel much more comfortable communicating in Welsh and as part of the justice system, we should be allowing them every fair play to ensure a fair trial.

“The government also claims that the number of Welsh speakers able to participate would be only a small percentage of the population, but, in reality, it would only be a small number of County Court cases which would require a bilingual jury.

“A bilingual jury would actually save money as there would be no need of translators and would be better for justice as we would hear and understand the authentic original voice of the participants.

“Remember that bilingual jurors would be fluent in English and Welsh, so there is nothing lost in understanding documents or parts of the case that are delivered in English.

“When it comes down to it, there are neither legal, practical or cost implications which would impede bilingual juries, just the bloody-mindedness of the British legal system in London.”

Mr Williams continued:

“The attitude shown here is in complete contrast with the Welsh Assembly Government where new powers are being introduced through the Welsh Language Measure and shows the difference in attitudes between Wales and London on these type of issues.

“We only have to look back to last year when the court’s computer systems were unable to deal with bilingualism and sent English-only instructions throughout Wales, never mind the delay of four years since the completion of a consultation exercise, to see how justice in the Welsh language is treated in London.

“This only goes to illustrate the need for a Welsh legal jurisdiction which would treat bilingualism as the norm, rather than some sort of peripheral exception.

“I shall continue to fight for this change in the courts, the one area of the Welsh language which would remain at Westminster after a successful referendum, as it shows once again that a strong Plaid Cymru voice is needed here in Westminster to fight for issues that the London parties will happily ignore.”