§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated cost, in each of the next three financial years, of the recently announced inducement 277W payments for students prepared to undertake teacher training courses; if these payments are to be made to students regardless of whether they are undertaking such courses in Wales or elsewhere; and if such grants will be made by his Department to students from outside Wales wishing to undertake such courses at colleges in Wales. [67104]
§ Mr. HainPayments of the bursaries for mathematics and science students will be made to those who undertake a PGCE course in mathematics or science in Wales, starting in September 1999. It will be paid as £2,500 during the PGCE course, and £2,500 to trainees entering the teaching profession. The full payment of the bursary will therefore be conditional on those students subsequently entering teaching within those subjects.
It is estimated that based on current intake targets the scheme in Wales could cost £775,000 per annum in 1999–2000 and the following two financial years. Payments will be made to all students undertaking courses in Wales; similarly, payments will be made by the Department for Education and Employment to all students undertaking courses in England. The precise mechanism for making the payments will be finalised in the next few months.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.