HC Deb 18 March 1976 vol 907 cc604-5W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Lord President of the Council in view of the Governments intention that the Welsh Assembly will have responsibility for the welfare of the Welsh language, whether the Welsh Assembly will be empowered to determine the required level of output of teachers in Wales qualified to teach through the medium of the Welsh language.

Mr. Edward Short

It is intended to devolve statutory powers connected with the training of teachers on the Assembly but it will be for that body to decide what use to make of them.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the intention outlined in paragraph 243 of the White Paper "Our Changing Democracy" for the Welsh Assembly to be responsible for discretionary awards to students implies that local education authorities would no longer have responsibility for such matters.

Mr. Edward Short

No.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the Welsh Assembly will have the same function as is proposed for the Scottish Assembly of being able to determine age levels and attendance requirements in the schools of Wales.

Mr. Edward Short

These matters are mainly governed by primary legislation which the Welsh Assembly, unlike the Scottish Assembly, will not be empowered to amend.