§ Mr. G. Robertsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a non-Welsh speaking officer was appointed to the headship of the Inland Revenue Office at Portmadoc, which serves an area which is almost entirely Welsh-speaking and the population of which is accustomed to discussing their tax problems in the Welsh language; how many of this officer's immediate assistants are conversant with the Welsh language; and whether he will take action to ensure that in Welsh-speaking districts, Inland Revenue officers are proficient in Welsh, as is the case with several other Government offices.
§ Mr. PowellThere is a shortage of Inspectors of Taxes able to speak Welsh. Although neither the District Inspector at Portmadoc nor his three immediate subordinates speak Welsh, twenty-six of the remaining staff of thirty do. A Welsh-speaking Inspector will be posted to this office at the first convenient opportunity.