§ 7. Mr. Gristasked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to improve the teaching of foreign languages in Welsh schools.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Barry Jones)The place of foreign languages in the schools of Wales is being considered as part of the present review of the curriculum. In the meantime, Her Majesty's inspectors are continuing in a variety of ways to promote good practice in this field.
§ Mr. GristIs the Minister aware that university departments are seriously concerned at the poor standard of many of the pupils who are coming to them from schools? Is he aware that a lower proportion of pupils take O-levels in foreign languages in Wales than in England? Does he accept that a sufficient grasp of foreign languages is invaluable to our export endeavours?
§ Mr. Barry JonesI agree with the hon. Gentleman's last point. There is no doubt that in Britain's fight for economic survival in the decades ahead the ability of our children to speak foreign languages will help us to sell the goods that we produce. As to the hon. Gentleman's statistical point, although the numbers taking French at O-level—the most popular language—have marginally declined in the past two years, entries for all modern languages, taken together, at both GCE and CSE levels, have steadily increased over the past four or five years.