The leader of the Legislative Committee in the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has stated in a letter to a fellow Assembly Member (AM) that "Wales should properly be referred to as a country."

John Griffiths AM/AC, a Labour Party member who holds the position of Counsel General and Leader of the Legislative Programme in the WAG, was responding to a query from Plaid Cymru AM, Leanne Wood, passed on by her by one of her constituents. Mr Griffiths response makes if clear that the term 'principality' to describe Wales is a "misnomer" and he said he will ensure that Wales "is not referred to as a principality in other reports and papers issued by the UK Government."

The full text of the letter is set out below.

"Leanne Wood AM/AC

National Assembly for Wales

Ty Hywel

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff CF99 1NA

30th June 2010

Dear Leanne

National Status Inaccuracy

Thank you for your letter dated 27th May 2010, bringing to my attention that one of your constituents has picked up a description of Wales as being a

'principality', rather than a 'country', in a report the former UK Government

submitted to the United Nations Economic and Social Council in June 2007 for a conference on the standardisation of geographical names in August 2007. I apologise for the delay in replying.

I agree that, in relation to Wales, principality is a misnomer and that Wales

should properly be referred to as a country.

Please assure your constituent that the Welsh Assembly Government is committed to promoting Wales as a country both at home and abroad and we will endeavour to ensure that Wales is not referred to as a principality in other reports and papers issued by the UK Government.

Yours sincerely

John Griffiths AM/AC"

This article prepared for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary

Celtic League. For follow-up comment or clarification contact:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209315884

M: 0044(0)7787318666

gensec [at] celticleague.net

J B Moffatt (Mr)

Director of Information

Celtic League

28/07/10