Ethnic Minorities (Hansard, 26 April 1983)

§ 13. Mr. Proctor
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had recently with the Commission for Racial Equality concerning education of the ethnic minorities; and if he will make a statement.

§ Dr. Boyson
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no recent discussions with the Commission for Racial Equality

§ Mr. Proctor
When my hon. Friend next meets representatives of the Commission for Racial Equality, will he make it clear that it is no part of this Government's policy to favour policies or measures of positive discrimination in favour of the ethnic minorities?

§ Dr. Boyson
As I have said several times, the Government's policy is to give every opportunity to all children in our schools, regardless of background, so that they can fit easily into British society, both for their good and for that of our society.

§ Mr. Kinnock
May I generally endorse that sentiment and ask for the resources implied by it? Will the Under-Secretary of State ask the hon. Member for Basildon (Mr. Proctor), who asks such questions at every Education Question Time, at least to be direct and open in his frank racism, instead of hiding behind the contortion of words that he uses?

§ Dr. Boyson
About £30 million goes into the urban programme and much of that is spent on education. I remind hon. Members of section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 and the weighting of the block grant. Quite a considerable sum is spent on helping schools with the education of minority groups so that they can take full advantage of the education being offered.

§ Mr. Forman
I welcome my hon. Friend's earlier answer on the education of ethnic minorities. Does he share my concern about the reported intention of Mrs. Frances Morrell to suggest that the education of such youngsters in ILEA schools should place priority on their language of origin rather than on English? Should it not be the other way round?

§ Dr. Boyson
The important point is that all children should leave school numerate, and speaking and writing fluent English. If children come from homes in which no English is spoken, they can be taught at an early age—provided there are enough of them to make it economic —English grammar in parallel with their own language. Tests show that by the age of seven or eight such children do better in English. There is no reason why children should not learn their original language as the second modern language instead of, for example, French.

§ Mr. D. E. Thomas
I welcome the Minister's statement and his recognition that Britain is a multi-lingual society. I also welcome his comments to the effect that the teaching of a child's mother tongue, particularly in inner cities, can be helpful in the development of his English. However, will he give an assurance that he will make the resources available and that he will respond to the recommendations of the Select Committee—to which he has, as yet, still not responded—and also to the recent statement by the Commission for Racial Equality about ethnic minority community languages?

§ Dr. Boyson
In reply to the hon. Member for Bedwellty (Mr. Kinnock) I mentioned three areas to which considerable sums of money are being allocated for this purpose. We are also expecting this year the Swann report —the final report—in which, I am told, there will be a considerable amount of information and advice on the teaching of minority languages.