§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the staff of the local and regional offices of his Department in Wales at each professional level are competent to carry out their business through the medium of both the English and Welsh languages.
§ Mr. MajorThe information is as follows:
Total Welsh speakers per cent. Assistant Secretary 1 — — Senior Principal 2 — — Principal 13 — — Senior Executive Officer 47 5 10.63 Higher Executive Officer 213 26 12.2 Executive Officer/Local Officer I 1,128 145 12.85 Clerical Officer/Local Officer II 2,299 184 8 Clerical Assistant 578 27 4.6 Typist 104 6 5.76 Others 120 4 3.3 Total 4,505 397 8.81
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria as to the linguistic competence of the candidates in Welsh and English are used by his Department in employing staff at each professional level at the local and regional offices in Wales.
§ Mr. MajorThere are no criteria as to the Welsh speaking skills of local and regional office staff recruited in Wales. The Department is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate either against or in favour of Welsh speaking candidates.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria are employed by his Department in deciding which forms, leaflets, posters and other printed matter should be in (a) Welsh and (b) bilingual Welsh/ English.
§ Mr. MajorIn considering the publication of forms, leaflets and posters in the Welsh language the Department of Health and Social Security takes the following factors into consideration:
366W
- (i) the importance of the communication;
- (ii) whether the response to it is to be processed locally;
- (iii) whether there is sufficient continuing demand to make publication in Welsh economically viable.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local offices of his Department in Wales show the poster, "Welsh Forms and Leaflets are Available at This Office—Please ask the Receptionist".