Governments in row over Jubilee book distribution
UK GOVERNMENT ministers are said to be “furious” at the Welsh Government’s refusal to distribute a book to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum anniversary to every primary school pupil in Wales.
Instead, schools will only receive copies of the book if they decide to optin.
A senior political source told us: “The Welsh Government insisted that the book was translated into Welsh, which was done.
“Then they said they were only prepared to let the book be distributed on an opt-in basis.
“Ministers in Westminster are furious and can’t understand the objections to the book.”
The Department for Education in England has awarded a contract worth nearly £12m to London-based DK Books to produce enough copies of the book for every primary school child in the UK.
The contract sets out a list of requirements about what should be in the book:
A description of the system of a constitutional monarchy in the UK;
The role of the monarch: what it means and why it matters, and the Queen’s role as head of the Commonwealth;
What the Platinum Jubilee is and why it is a significant milestone in the Queen’s reign, including the dates and times of other long-serving British monarchs;
A narrative of the Queen’s 70-year reign, with key events, achievements and inventions.
Aberconwy Conservative MP Robin Millar raised the issue in the House of Commons, asking if all primary school pupils in Wales would get the book.
Wales Office Minister David Davies responded: “The UK Government wanted to celebrate the enormous achievement, the enormous commitment to public service that has been made by our monarch, and have produced this book bilingually to ensure that schoolchildren across Wales are able to read bilingually about the contribution that has been made by the Queen.
“I am sure they all look forward eagerly to receiving their copy, and the UK Government is working with the Welsh Government to ensure that can happen imminently.”
However, the Welsh Government has a different view.
A source told us that after seeing the book, it was decided it would not be appropriate to distribute it to all pupils, but to leave it to schools to decide if they wanted it.
It’s thought the book is seen to be too Anglocentric and not in tune with a devolved UK where Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own governments.
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “The Department for Education (DfE) in England is producing the Platinum Jubilee book, which we understand the DfE plan to issue in September. The Welsh Government has no role in the production or distribution of the book.
“Education is a devolved matter. We have been clear that the book should be available in Welsh and English and schools only receive the book on an opt-in basis.”
The UK Government has issued a series of “factual briefing points” which include: “The Welsh Government has been aware of this project since April 2021.
“In accordance with a Welsh Government request in July 2021, we ensured that a bilingual version of the book will be produced for Welsh children, at additional expense compared to other versions of the book. We have also commissioned Welsh language audio recordings.
“Print costs are not broken down on a country by country basis. As part of this cost we are, however, producing a near double-length bilingual book for Wales which will cost the UK Government more to produce than the single language versions.
“The volume of books to be printed for Wales will be determined following the book ordering exercise with schools.”