§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of proposals that because there is a preponderance of immigrant children in Newham schools, the teachers should be compelled to learn and teach the children Urdu, Hindi and other Asian languages, and that the children should have their own religious instructions, supply of food and other matters to maintain and spread their culture; and, because this will cost money, he will make a national grant towards these expenses to prevent an increase in the local rates to pay for these costs.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonMy right hon. Friend has no plans for extending the existing arrangements under which 75 per cent. grant is payable to local authorities in respect of the salaries of additional staff employed by them to assist with the language and other needs of Commonwealth immigrants. Furthermore, there are no powers under which teachers can be compelled to learn and teach particular languages.
For many years schools have accepted in principle that there is a need to cater for the dietary requirements of different religions and cultures. I understand that the school meals service in Newham aims to cater within reason for all such variations of individual requirements.
The Education Acts provide that a parent may withdraw a child from
Non-graduate Graduate ATC/ATD courses Manchester Polytechnic 145 200 50 City of Manchester College of Higher Education 180 80 — Any estimate of the kind requested would be for the authority to make in the light of their policies in relation to staff affected by the contraction of teacher training.