§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Chancellor of Exchequer if he will set up an investigation into the extent of compliance by the Inland Revenue with the Welsh Language Act 1967 and its responses to citizens who correspond with it in Welsh and request Welsh or bilingual documents.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesI am satisfied that the Inland Revenue's policy is in accordance with the requirements of this Act and that the Department has consistently followed the recommendation of the Hughes Parry Committee. Welsh versions of official forms should be produced where there is a fair demand for them. The principal forms necessary to the legal process of tax collection, that is, returns of income, notices of assessment and demand notes, are, for the years of assessment from 1975–76 onwards, available in Welsh to those taxpayers who request them. I shall be glad to look into any particular case of difficulty which the hon. Member may have in mind, but I234W do not consider that any general investigation is necessary.