Comment DBCC-6307
I have read that:
"The Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024, which became law in June, says that "each constituency in Wales must have a single monolingual name, unless the commission consider doing so would be unacceptable"."
(Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy84d2e81djo)
While this may be acceptable where the majority of speakers use Welsh, it is wholly inappropriate for areas where they do not.
I live in Torfaen, which under the proposals will merged with Monmouthshire. According to the 2021 census, the levels of non Welsh speaking in both areas were as follows:
Torfaen = 91.8% non Welsh speakers
Monmouthshire = 91.3% non Welsh speakers
(Source:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/W06000020/
https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/W06000021/)
Under the proposals, the likely monolingual name for the unified constituency will be "Sir Fynwy a Thorfaen". This will effectively be in a language that the VAST MAJORITY of the population do not speak.
I would strongly request that, based on the language skills of the residents of the new constituency, it should be primarily named "Monmouthshire and Torfaen", with "Sir Fynwy a Thorfaen" used for Welsh speakers.
I would also propose that each constituency should be named based on the level of Welsh language skills, rather than an arbitrary blanket approach.
Respondent type
Member of public
This comment refers to
The entire area under review.