§ Mr. Brian Parkynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what special financial assistance he is providing to the Borough of Bedford during the present and coming financial 28W year to help with the high percentage of non-English speaking children in some of the primary schools in Bedford;
(2) what special financial assistance he is providing for the Borough of Bedford during the present and coming financial year, in view of the high percentage of immigrants in Bedford.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesFinancial assistance is provided by the Government under Section 11 of the Local Government Act, 1966, in respect of the extra staffing costs incurred by local authorities in making special provision for Commonwealth immigrants. Grant is paid at the rate of 75 per cent. The total expected expenditure for the Borough of Bedford is £25,946 in 1969–70 and £33,094 in 1970–71. Within these totals, the expenditure related to teachers specially employed because of the presence of immigrants is of the order of £21,900 and £28,700 respectively. It is not possible to identify expenditure relating specifically to primary schools.
Under the second phase of the Government's Urban Programme, approval was given in June, 1969, to proposed expenditure of £20,000 to provide a language teaching block for immigrant school children in Bedford. Under the Local Government Grants (Social Need) Act, 1969, this expenditure will also qualify for grant at the rate of 75 per cent.