<div dir="ltr"><h1 class="">'English only' rule at Lidl shops sparks Welsh row</h1>
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<img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/78844000/jpg/_78844365_78841491.jpg" alt="A Lidl store" height="351" width="624">
<span style="width:624px">Lidl says it wants all staff and customers to feel included</span>
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<p class="" id="story_continues_1">Staff at Lidl supermarkets are being stopped from speaking any language other than English in their UK stores - including Welsh.</p>
<p>The retailer said its policy is for staff to speak in English to customers, irrespective of their native language.</p>
<p>It comes after two staff members in Scotland were banned from speaking Polish to each other on their tea break.</p>
<p>The store said it was to ensure all its staff and customers "felt comfortable".</p>
<p>"It is Lidl UK company policy that staff speak in English to
customers, irrespective of their native language," the company told t<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw" title="click through to website">he BBC Welsh-language website Cymru Fyw</a>.</p>
<p>"This is for the benefit of all our customers as well as our staff to ensure a comfortable environment where all feel included. </p>
<p>"However, it goes without saying that our staff are able to
assist a customer by conversing in their native tongue, if the customer
is unable to speak any English." </p>
<span class="">Legality questioned</span>
<p>The Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith) said the policy was "appalling". </p>
<p>Its chairman, Jamie Bevan, added that "since the Welsh
language bill was passed four years ago, it is illegal to stop staff
from speaking to customers in Welsh".</p>
<p>Welsh Language Commissioner Meri Huws said she will respond in due course.</p>
<p>The Welsh government said: "The Welsh language has official
status in Wales, and there are provisions in the Welsh language measure
to protect people's freedom to use the language. </p>
<p>"The Welsh language commissioner has the power to investigate
any allegations of this and can produce reports for Welsh ministers to
consider."</p>
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