1. Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money has been allocated by his Department to assist with developing the teaching of Welsh to adults in 1988–89 and 1989–90; and how many full-time tutors of Welsh to adults are currently working in Wales.
§ The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Mr. Wyn Roberts)In 1988–89 Government grants worth some £265,000 were made available to support Welsh for adults classes, and £356,000 has been available in 1989–90. Information on the total number of tutors for adults is not held centrally.
Dr. ThomasI am grateful to the Minister of State for his reply. He will be aware that that sum falls substantially short of the £800,000 requested by the Welsh Joint Education Committee for the first year, rising to £1.5 million in the second year. He will also know of the recent survey commissioned by S4C which showed that 11 per cent. of adults questioned would like to attend Welsh language classes. Is not that the positive way to respond to the population changes taking place in Wales?
§ Mr. RobertsThe hon. Gentleman will have noticed that the allocation for 1989–90 was 34 per cent. greater than the allocation for the previous year, and I am happy to be able to tell him that the allocation for 1990–91 is £420,000—an increase of 18 per cent. on last year's figure. The figures that I have given do not include money channelled through local authorities or through revenue support grant, or the money spent by S4C and the Acen initiative, nor does it include the money being spent by the Training Agency, so a great deal is happening.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesClearly the Welsh language has no better supporter in the House than my hon. Friend, who has fought long, well and hard for it. I welcome the additional spending that he has announced, but can he say where it will be spent?
§ Mr. RobertsWe shall be announcing the detailed allocation later this week, but the House will be interested to know that the main beneficiaries in the past have been the six local education authorities the four university colleges and the polytechnic, the Nant Gwrtheyrn language centre, the Workers Education Association, Cyngor y Dysgwyr—the Learners Council—and the Welsh Joint Education Committee. We have also spent 870 money on education research in this area. In the coming year I hope to extend this support to the local authority higher education colleges.
§ Mr. Roy HughesWill the Minister consider the special position of Gwent, where there are so few Welsh speakers, and consider providing additional financial assistance for that county?
§ Mr. RobertsThe hon. Gentleman and the House will know that our top priority is the implementation of the Welsh language provisions of the national curriculum, in which we have paid special attention to the needs of Gwent.