§ 91. Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the official monthly publication of the Department of Agriculture, known as "The Agrichelles", in the Seychelles, is written almost entirely in French, in view of the fact that there are only six French citizens in the islands.
§ Mr. WhitlockThis publication includes articles in both English and French. A significant part of the farming community is of French origin and is literate in French.
§ 92. Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why there are no facilities provided by the Government in the 384W Seychelles to learn English, or to improve their knowledge of English for those who have left school or who have never been to school, in view of the fact that there are classes for learning and improving French through the work of the Alliance Francise; and whether he will instruct the British Council to provide facilities for the teaching of English.
§ Mr. WhitlockIt has not been found possible in the past to provide such facilities but consideration is being given to the introduction of such classes in the future. The resources available to the British Council would not enable them at present to provide facilities locally.
§ Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurance has been given in the Seychelles regarding retention of the French language; and why the language is being retained.
§ Mr. WhitlockNo specific assurance has been given. The French language is retained because it is commonly used by a large number of people in the islands.
§ Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government is taking to facilitate the use of the English language to help British trade in the Seychelles.
§ Mr. WhitlockEnglish is the normal medium of communication in trade matters and no special measures to facilitate its use are necessary.
§ Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits have been made by British Ministers to the Seychelles since 1945.
§ Mr. WhitlockTwo. We are examining the possibility of a Ministerial visit early next year.
§ Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give particulars of the circumstances in which Government-employed teachers in the Seychelles voted against the teaching of English in contravention of a Government ruling; how many did so; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. WhitlockThe Seychelles Government are not aware of any such vote.
§ Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the local broadcasting time in the Seychelles is in Creole, French, and English, respectively; what arrangements are made for the British Broadcasting Corporation broadcasting from London to Seychelles to be heard there, and in what languages; what times are allotted on Radio Seychelles to the Alliance Francaise; and what increases have been made in broadcasting by the latter in recent years.
§ Mr. WhitlockOf local broadcasting time alloted by Radio Seychelles approximately 10 per cent. is in Creole, 10 per cent. in French and 80 per cent. in English. The British Broadcasting Corporation 'World Service news and commentary in English is rebroadcast by Radio Seychelles every day, and "World News Headlines", which is made up from the British Broadcasting Corporation World Service morning broadcast, is broadcast every week day. Two hours per week is now allotted on Radio Seychelles to the Alliance Francaise; up to August, 1966, the time allotted was one hour.