HC Deb 23 July 1986 vol 102 c228W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are being taken by the Welsh Office to meet the shortages of Welsh-speaking teachers highlighted in the report on the curriculum review recently published by his Department.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

Paragraph 30 of the report "Local Authority Reviews of the School Curriculum in Wales" statesParticularly at a time when rolls are falling and substantial numbers of schools are undergoing organisational change the Government believes that positive action is needed by LEAs to redeploy teachers as appropriate and to allow for suitable in-service training".

Welsh language teaching is one of the national priority areas identified by the Welsh Office under its specific grant arrangements for in-service teacher training. Our officials are exploring with officers of each LEA how these grant arrangements could be used to help authorities make fuller use of the substantial number of Welsh-speaking teachers who are currently teaching only through the medium of English.

Measures are also under consideration to encourage more recruits into initial teacher training and in Wales particular attention is being given to recruiting Welsh speakers. The consultative document recently published by my right hon. Friends "Action on Teacher Supply in Mathematics, Physics and Technology" contains much that is relevant to the Welsh medium situation and I anticipate receiving some helpful and constructive comments.