§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many additional allocations have been made available by his Department in each financial year since 1975–76, including 1978–79, on the following capital building programmes; and if he will indicate the date of the announcement of additional allocation, and the total allocation proposed and taken up in each instance: personal, social services, schools, special education and nursery education programmes.
§ Mr. John MorrisFollowing is the information:
are already aware of these recommendations.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he has taken to set up the fund recommended in paragraphs 25 to 26 of the interim report of the Council for the Welsh Language on periodicals in Welsh for children and young people, in view of the speedy decisions which the council considered were necessary.
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§ Mr. John MorrisThe sum of £42,000 has been granted to Urdd Gobaith Cymru—the Welsh League of Youth—for its magazines over the financial years 1977–80. Any other periodical which satisfied the criteria laid down in paragraph 26 of the interim report would be considered for assistance.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the reports made to him by the Council for the Welsh Language, and tabulate the number of recommendations made to him by the council in its period of operation; of these how many were (a) accepted and (b) rejected; on how many a decision is still awaited; and what resources have been made available by the Department to implement recommendations which have been accepted.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe reports are:
- The Welsh Language in Nursery Education
- Television Broadcasting in Wales
- Periodicals in Welsh for Children and Young People
- Welsh for Adults
- A Future for the Welsh Language
- Publishing in the Welsh Language (to be published shortly).
The Council made a large number of recommendations for action by various bodies, including the Government, in its reports and in correspondence. It is not practical to analyse what action has been taken by the relevant body on every recommendation or to identify separately the expenditure of Government funds on implementing the recommendations.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary for Wales if he will publish a circular to all local and health authorities in Wales drawing their attention to the recommendations of the final report of the Council for the Welsh Language "Dyfodol i'r Iaith Gymraeg—A Future for the Welsh Language".
§ Mr. John MorrisNo, Sir. I consider that wide publicity has already been given to the publication of this report.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Welsh Joint Education Committee and the University of Wales about conferring suitable qualifications on adults learning Welsh, as recommended in paragraph 32 of the Council 590W for the Welsh Language report "Dysgu Cymraeg i Oedolion—Welsh for Adults".
§ Mr. John MorrisA university certificate in Welsh as a second language, available to adult learners, is now in the second year of a three-year experimental period.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the survey advocated in paragraph 30 of the report of the Council for the Welsh Language "Dysgu Cymraeg i Ocdolion—Welsh for Adults", of all centres owned by relevant bodies in Wales which are suitable for residential courses in Welsh has been carried out; and what initiative has been taken by his Department to co-ordinate work at these centres.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe Welsh Joint Education Committee's "Directory on Teaching Welsh as a Second Language to Adult Learners" already lists courses and centres. To the extent that co-ordination of activities is necessary and appropriate, it can be achieved through existing consultative arrangements, notably the WJEC's panel on teaching Welsh to adults.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has considered the recommendation in paragraphs 40 to 42 of the report by the Council for the Welsh Language "Dysgu Cymraeg i Oedolion—Welsh for Adults" that a standing conference or similar body should be convened to represent the whole field of teaching Welsh to adults and be responsible for the functions summarised in paragraph 42 of this report; whether he has acted on the recommendation in paragraph 41 that a full-time agency should be set up to work under the general supervision of the standing conference, funded by a direct Government grant; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe recommendations for a standing conference and full-time agency have to be considered in relation to other institutional changes which are proposed by the Council in its final report.