HC Deb 30 January 1990 vol 166 cc146-7W
13. Sir Michael McNair-Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he plans any fresh approaches to foreign language tuition among those at primary schools or earlier.

Mr. Alan Howarth

My right hon. Friend has no such plans at present.

37. Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the extent to which modern foreign languages will be taught in primary schools.

Mrs. Rumbold

The national curriculum includes a modern foreign language as a foundation subject at secondary level only. Individual local education authorities and primary schools are free to provide foreign language teaching to their pupils outside the national curriculum, if they have the necessary staffing and other resources to do so.