69. Mr. Robertsasked the Minister of Education if the will make a statement defining his Department's attitude to applications for the establishment of primary schools conducted in the Welsh language in districts where parents are not satisfied that existing provision is adequate for the teaching of Welsh and allied studies.
§ Mr. TomlinsonIn Welsh speaking districts primary schools are normally conducted very largely in the Welsh language and English is taught as a second language. In districts where both languages are spoken children are usually divided into Welsh speaking and English speaking groups with appropriate instruction in both languages. In Llanelly—a linguistically mixed area—a separate school for children from Welsh speaking homes has been established, and I am prepared 79W to cónsider proposals for similar schools where they would be clearly desirable on educational grounds. My Department gives constant attention to the improvement of instruction in such allied studies as Welsh History, Literature, Music and Geography in the primary and secondary schools of Wales and Monmouthshire.