HC Deb 18 January 1988 vol 125 c660
5. Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many pupils in Wales do not receive instruction in Welsh as a first or second language at the ages of (a)seven, (b) 12 and (c) 15 years.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The latest available figures, for September 1986, show that 74 per cent. of 12-year-olds and 27 per cent. of 15-year-olds were receiving instruction in Welsh either as a first or as a second language. Comparable figures are not available for children aged seven, but for primary children as a group, that is aged five to 11, 66 per cent. were receiving instruction in Welsh.

Mr. Griffiths

Does the Minister intend to carry out a crash programme to ensure that there are more teachers of the Welsh language, so that all children in Wales will have the opportunity to learn Welsh?

Mr. Roberts

The hon. Gentleman will know that we have some 2,500 teachers in Wales who can speak Welsh, but do not teach through the medium of Welsh. We have been encouraging them with in-service training to enable them to use Welsh as their medium of instruction.

Dr. Thomas

Does the Minister accept that the key time for instruction in Welsh and in other European languages is at nursery and primary level? Will he tackle seriously the issue of linguistic skills in Wales, by ensuring that the skills that have been developed in bilingual teaching at primary level are extended and other European languages are added to them, to ensure that children in Wales have the same linguistic skills as those in any other part of the European Community?

Mr. Roberts

That is my desire, too, but let us not underestimate the point made in my answer to the question, that 66 per cent. of our primary school children receive instruction in Welsh. I think that the hon. Gentleman will be fair enough to admit that, although we should not be complacent about that figure, it is certainly very encouraging. I agree with what he said about children at nursery school age. We owe a considerable debt to Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin, which has prospered and extended its activities under this Government.