38. Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked whether the secretary to the Welsh Insurance Commissioners is a competent Welsh scholar and capable of dealing with any correspondence in Welsh?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe answer is in the affirmative.
62. Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will issue a memorandum stating how many letters in English and in Welsh, respectively, were sent out by the Welsh Insurance Commission from its formation up to 1st November?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am afraid that the compilation of such a memorandum would fail to serve any useful purpose. I am informed that the great majority of the letters are in English, but that some hundreds have been written in Welsh, in addition to circulars, leaflets, official notices, etc.
§ Mr. MASTERMANI do not think anything can be gained by going through all the official documents and memoranda and counting either one or the other.
63. Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will issue a memorandum stating how many persons have been appointed to the staff of the Welsh Insurance Commissioners, distinguishing between the different grades and the nature of the employment; what are the names and salaries of such persons respectively; what were their occupations previous to appointment, and the cities or towns to which they belonged; how many persons appointed could speak and write Welsh; how many passed competitive examinations, and when; if they were open competitions; in the case of those who did not so pass, what were the special qualifications for appointment; and how many applicants there were for the positions filled.?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI propose to issue a memorandum with regard to appointments under the Welsh Commission giving similar information to that promised in the case of appointments under the English Commission in answer to the hon. Members for Southport and St. Pancras (South) on the 7th, 8th and 19th November, and will state in addition which of the persons appointed can speak and write Welsh.