§ 4. Mr. Reesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many Income Tax offices in Wales and in particular, the 459 capital city, Cardiff, the inspector in charge can speak Welsh.
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Sir Edward Boyle)One. This office is one of those in Cardiff.
§ Mr. ReesWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him, in view of the very small number, to ensure that he in no way depletes them, because there are bilingual people in Wales who under stress in Income Tax offices find it difficult to express themselves in English and would find it beneficial to express themselves in Welsh?
§ Sir E. BoyleIn view of my very happy contacts with Wales at the Ministry of Education, I shall be glad to look at this matter. I am told that where, as occasionally happens in a few districts, the tax inspector has to interview taxpayers who speak only Welsh fluently, he is normally able to call on a member of his staff to act as interpreter, but if my hon. Friend brings any case to my attention I will certainly look into it.