§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what subjects he regards as being reasonable ones for local education authorities in Wales to insist that pupils study for O-level examinations, irrespective of the wishes of their parents.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe subjects studied by an individual pupil and the level to which those studies are pursued must relate to the educational needs of that pupil, taking into account also the provisions of section 76 of the Education Act 1944.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, if enough parents at any particular school in Wales wished their children not to be required to be taught a specific subject for ordinary level GCE examinations, be that subject English, Welsh, mathematics or history, he will issue an order under section 99 of the Education Act 1944 to require the local education authority to have regard of the parents' wishes.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsIt would be necessary for my right hon. Friend to take into account all the relevant circumstances of a particular case in considering action under the terms of section 99 of the Education Act.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the relevant pupils in a school at a particular date he regards as a sufficiently large proportion for the local education authority to have to amend its regulations concerning compulsion for pupils to study a specific subject, or to have a right to study a subject not available in that school, to meet the wishes of those pupils and their parents.
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§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThis would depend on the circumstances of a particular case.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters he has received between 3 May and 5 July from (a) parents of secondary school children and (b) other persons in the Llandudno and Bangor areas, respectively, concerning the right of choice of subjects at O-level in schools in those two areas.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsLetters about subject choices in the fourth and fifth years in secondary schools in the areas concerned were received between the dates mentioned as follows:
- (a) From parents of secondary school children in Bangor—8.
- (b) From parents of secondary school children in Llandudno—3.
- (c) From others in Bangor—4.
- (d) From others in Llandudno—2.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what surveys his Welsh Office has undertaken in Gwynedd between 3 May and 5 July to ascertain the wishes of parents in respect to their children's education.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsNone.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what surveys have been undertaken by the Welsh Office between 3 May and 5 July into the number of subjects which it is compulsory for O-level stream students to take in each secondary school in Wales.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsNone.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek to extend the terms of reference of the Committee on Welsh Affairs to enable it to consider an order made under section 99 of the Education Act 1944 against a local education authority in Wales.