Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by grade the total number of staff in his Department above the principal who are able to fulfil the whole of their responsibilities in the Welsh language.
§ Mr. Wyn Roberts[holding answer 23 January 1990]: No such criterion is used; but the following information relates to numbers of Welsh speakers above grade 7 (principal):
- 1 Grade 2
- 4 Grade 3
- 1 Grade 4
- 14 Grade 5
- 39 Grade 6.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by grade those of his officials whose duties are related solely to the Welsh language.
§ Mr. Wyn Roberts[holding answer 23 January 1990]: The information is as follows:
- 1 HEO
- 2 EO
- 1 AO
- 2 Typists
Other staff who are primarily responsible for Welsh language matters also have other duties. In addition, there is a range of posts across my Department in which Welsh language matters form part of the duties of officials.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the applicability of the Council of Europe's charter on minority language to the Welsh language and Wales.
§ Mr. Wyn Roberts[holding answer 23 January 1990]: The Government's policies in relation to the Welsh language compare very favourably with the measures outlined in the Council of Europe's draft charter on regional and minority languages.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when and for how long he last visited Nant Gwrtheyrn, on official business.
§ Mr. Peter Walker[holding answer 23 January 1990]: I have not yet been able to visit the national language centre at Nant Gwrtheyrn.