§ Mr. Kellyasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, although almost all communications received by the Welsh Board of Health are written in English, the Department is imposing upon new entrants the necessity of possessing 1353W a knowledge of the Welsh language; and whether he will take steps to ensure that success in the appropriate Civil Service examinations and compliance with the regulations should be the sole criteria for appointment?
§ Sir K. WoodNo, Sir, apart from officers on the outdoor staff, it is not necessary that officers of the Welsh Board of Health should be able to speak Welsh, and many of the officers now serving have no knowledge of the language. Welsh is, however, an optional language at certain Civil Service examinations, and when the successful candidates include Welsh-speaking persons, there is evident advantage in assigning them to vacancies under the Board.