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Welsh Affairs

I am grateful to be called to speak in the debate. I was unable to be here at the start as I was seeing some of the people who contributed to our very successful St. David's day service this morning. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those people, including the venerable Meurig Llwyd Williams, the archdeacon of Bangor, who preached, the noted actor, Mr. John Griffith, and those from Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain and Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Gwyddon who sang. I would also like to mention the right hon. Member for Islwyn (Mr. Touhig), who is unfortunately not in his place. He sometimes has a fierce reputation among nationalists, but he did his very best to ensure that the Welsh school from Islwyn, Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Gwyddon, contributed this morning.