§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what initiative has been taken by his Department to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations in paragraph 17 and 26 of the Council for the Welsh Language report on nursery education to co-ordinate the work of language organisers and improve the relationship between them and the inspectorate and voluntary playgroups;
(2) How many additional Welsh language organisers have been appointed by each local education authority since 1974; and what action he has taken to draw the attention of local education authorities to the recommendations in paragraph 16 of the report of the Council for the Welsh Language on nursery education;
(3) whether he has considered the recommendation in paragraph 26 of the report on nursery education proposed by the Council of the Welsh Language that responsibility for the registration and supervision of playgroups should be transferred from the social services departments of local authorities to the local education authorities.
§ Mr. John MorrisLocal education authorities and social service departments are encouraged to co-operate with each other and with voluntary organisations concerned with all aspects of the care and education of the under-fives. I hope to issue a circular on this subject shortly. My Department has responibility for both social service and education functions, and there is very close contact between my officials and the local authorities. I have no reason to believe that the situation would be significantly improved by a change in the registration requirements relating to playgroups.
Details of appointments of Welsh language advisers are not readily available, and I shall write to the hon. Member on this subject.
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§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what action has been taken by his Department to implement the recommendation in paragraph 6 of the report of the Council for the Welsh Language on nursery education on the keeping of statistics of the numbers receiving education through the medium of Welsh at all levels.
§ Mr. John MorrisMy Department has taken a number of steps in the past two years to rationalise and improve the quantity of statistical information on school education, particularly with regard to the use of the Welsh language. The collection of reliable data on the language medium in the nursery sector presents particular difficulties which have not yet been resolved.
1973–74 (part of year) 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 (part o year) £ £ £ £ £ Administration costs (including chairman's honorarium, members' travelling and subsistence expenses) 799 4,231 3,626 3,487 6,226 Staff, office accommodation and supporting services (estimated) 3,000 9,500 13,000 17,233 21,025 Cost of reports — 450 * 1,717 3,495 Research — — — — 5,150 Totals 3,799 14,181 16,626 22,437 35,896 Number of meetings held 10 30 29 26 28 Total—123. * Not separately identifiable.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department has studied the fifth survey report of the inspectorate on Welsh in the primary schools of Gwynedd, Powys and Dyfed; and if he will make a statement on any policy decision that he has taken following this report.
§ Mr. John MorrisThis report was, in fact, published by my Department because I felt it to be of general interest to all Welsh education authorities and those engaged in Welsh language teaching. I shall be consulting local education authorities on the place of the Welsh language in the schools of Wales in the light of their responses to the curriculum review qestionnaire sent out last November.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what initiative he has taken to implement the recommendation of paragraph 23 of the Council for the
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§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many times he met formally the chairman and members of the Council for the Welsh Language.
§ Mr. John MorrisTwice, on 31st May 1974 and 22nd October 1976. I also had many informal meetings with the chairman.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost to his Department of the work of the Council for the Welsh Language for each year since its inception; and if he will identify this expenditure by the cost of reports, the number of meetings held and the expenses of members.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe information is as follows:
Welsh Language report, "Dysgu Cymraeg i Oedolion—Welsh for Adults, to increase the availability of publishing, broadcasting and recording material for use by adult learners; and what resources he has allocated for this purpose.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe Government have supported the publication of Welsh language books for adults by increasing the annual Welsh books grant, which was £1,000 in 1956, to over £60,000 in 1978–79. A grant of £42,000 payable over the three years 1977–80, has been made to Urdd Gobaith Cymru to enable it to continue publication of four magazines.