§ 30. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Education how many French-speaking assistants are currently teaching in English schools; how many are French, Belgian and Swiss, respectively; and how these numbers compare with those of the previous year.
§ Sir E. Boyle1,003 French speaking assistants are currently teaching in English and Welsh schools of whom three 645 are Swiss and the rest French. In 1962–63, there were 937, of whom six were Swiss, three Belgians and 928 French.
§ Mr. BoydenNo progress has been made in increasing the number of Belgian, French and Swiss assistants. Has the right hon. Gentleman done nothing to deal with the difficulties which I raised with his predecessor more than a couple of years ago? Is that why there has not been an increase in the number of Belgian and Swiss assistants?
§ Sir E. BoyleI assure the hon. Gentleman that I have made it known to both the Belgian and Swiss authorities that we would welcome candidates from their universities, but Belgian and Swiss universities apparently neither expect nor encourage undergraduates to spend a year in this country. There are difficulties and I have done my best about them.