IT seems sad that a nation's language should need the protection of law to ensure its survival and growth, but there is little doubt that current Welsh language policies are outdated and unsuitable for a modern semi-autonomous nation. You can't compel people to learn or speak a language, of course, but you can assist them to do so and provide an environment in which it is cultivated. Certainly it would be refreshing to have cross-party consensus in the Welsh Assembly for whatever policies are devised so that we all know where we are going and agree on how to get there. Once these have been thrashed out to reflect the needs of today's Wales, they should be protected. It is absolutely right that public utilities, for example, be expected to recognise the right of their customers to communicate in Welsh, but if there is a price to pay then it should be met by subsidy. Legislation, however, should not be used as a stick with which to beat people, and should only be sought where it is clearly needed. In the meantime whatever can be done voluntarily to promote the idea that it can make business sense to deal in Welsh, must be done. £1m folly SO, before it's even been agreed, the unwelcome and unwanted, ill-thought-through and uncosted plan to merge all four Welsh police forces, has cost taxpayers £1m. That seems excessive to say the least for a fag packet on the back of which the scheme was drawn. How much more can we expect to pay for this bureaucratic madness? Critics warned that - apart from anything else - the cost would be prohibitive and lead to cuts in the service. Now we can see the truth of that prediction. If anyone still doubts the wisdom of this harebrained, politically motivated and self-defeating proposal, think how many bobbies on the beat £1m would fund. This, just days after we learnt that Colwyn Bay ratepayers are having to pay over-the top for the privilege of three part time special constables. It's a disgrace. | 
