§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has any plans to make special provision for language courses for Chilean refugees, whose grant from the Home Office for this purpose has recently been cut off.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received urging the restoration of Government financial support to projects concerned with the teaching of English to Chilean refugees; and if she will now take such action.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsI have received representations on this subject from the Joint Working Group for Refugees from Chile in Britain and from a number of hon. Members. Financial support to the joint working group is provided through the Voluntary Service Unit of the Home 195W Office, and these funds, which have not been withdrawn, include an allowance for English language lessons within an overall figure, which has been increasing at a substantial rate over several years. I have no powers to offer additional financial support for this purpose.