§ 23. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Education, in view of the demand from secondary schools for modern language assistants, why more French-speaking Belgian and Swiss assistants are not engaged to assist with French teaching in schools.
§ Sir D. EcclesAny increase in the number of French-speaking assistants from Belgium and Switzerland would be very welcome and I have made this known to the authorities in those countries.
§ Mr. BoydenDoes the Minister conduct a recruiting campaign in these countries? Is he allowed to do so? The number at the moment is pitiful—less than two dozen altogether. Is there any financial or foreign exchange difficulty?
§ Sir D. EcclesI will have to look into the second part of that supplementary question but certainly, through our 675 officers, we make it known that we should like to have these young assistants. I am glad to be able to tell the hon. Gentleman that we have just got two from French-speaking Canada.