HC Deb 02 May 1977 vol 931 cc75-6W
Mr. Lawson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she can confirm that the revised draft EEC directive on the education of migrant workers' children is concerned exclusively with the children of workers from other EEC countries, including the question of instruction in their mother tongue; and why it is that her Department's consultation letter on this subject states that no distinction will be made in the United Kingdom between EEC and other migrants or immigrants.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

The scope of application of the revised draft directive is limited to the children of EEC migrant workers who are or have been employed in another member State. But it is proposed that a Council statement should accompany it, expressing the intention of member States to extend the effect of the measures to other groups. We have made it clear that any measures the Government take domestically to implement the directive will not discriminate between EEC and other migrants in meeting educational needs. It is not intended, however, that the directive should confer individual rights to the provision of instruction in the mother tongue.