asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, in the impending interviews of candidates for posts on the local staffs of his Ministry, the special needs of Welsh-speaking areas in Wales will be adequately considered.

Yes, Sir; the fullest consideration will be given to the special needs of Welsh-speaking areas in Wales. In the recruitment to my Ministry which is now going on, the separate selection board which sits at Cardiff notes the names of successful candidates who speak Welsh, and the Controller in charge of National Insurance business in Wales posts them as far as possible to offices where a knowledge of the Welsh language is necessary or desirable.

Will my right hon. Friend, as well as giving due consideration to these Welsh-speaking areas, make perfectly sure that Welsh is not made obligatory upon all the people who can work in the Welsh department?

Certainly, Sir. I know there are English-speaking people as well.