HC Deb 03 June 1919 vol 116 cc1836-7
100. Mr. JOHN WILLIAMS

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received a report from Councillor Dan Jenkins, Brondolau, Penllergaer, containing allegations of alleged irregularities committed by the Llangyfelach Parish Council in the matter of the recent appointment of an assistant overseer; whether he has sanctioned such appointment; and, if not, whether he will investigate the matter before the appointment is sanctioned by him?

Major ASTOR

My right hon. Friend has received a communication, as mentioned by the hon. Member, respecting the appointment of the assistant overseer for the parish referred to. The appointment, however, rests with the parish council, and does not require the sanction of his Department.

101. Mr. J. WILLIAMS

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether representations have been made to him by the Welsh section of the Swan sea branch of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers protesting against the appointment of a relieving officer for the Llangyfelach district, South Wales, made recently by the guardians of the Swansea Union; whether he is aware that the person so appointed is a monoglot English man and that 90 per cent. of the persons living in the said district are Welsh speaking; whether he is aware that three Welsh-speaking discharged soldiers were on the short list for final selection; and whether he will investigate the mode of selection and nullify the appointment if he feels justified in so doing after such investigation?

Major ASTOR

The hon. Member's question relates, I think, to the appoint- ment last October of a relieving officer for the Morriston, Llansanlet, etc., Belief District of the Swansea Union. My right hon. Friend does not appear so far to have received any protests against the appointment. In reporting the appointment, the guardians intimated that the Welsh language is much used in the district and that the candidate appointed had yet to learn the language. Their report also showed that the five selected candidates who were tested by examination included three ex-soldiers, and that the candidate appointed was easily first in the examination. My right hon. Friend does not think that any course was open to his predecessor but to approve the appointment for the period of the War, and he can not reopen the matter at the present time.