HC Deb 15 May 1986 vol 97 cc536-7W
Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what funds have been made available, and to whom, to ensure the production and translation of new textbooks into the Welsh language for the proposed General Certificate of Secondary Education examinations courses.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The Department is funding two projects involving the preparation of new Welsh medium materials appropriate to GCSE courses. One is in the department of education, University College of Swansea costing some £30,000 and the other in the department of education, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, at an estimated cost of over £500,000.

Mr. D.E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what funds are being made available to local education authorities to purchase Welsh language textbooks needed for the new general certificate of secondary education examination courses.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

Local education authorities determine both the levels and the degree of priority of funding for school text books. As far as GCSE courses are concerned, they are free to apply for additional resources for books and equipment for 1987–88 and 1988–89 under the education support grant mechanism.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what funds have been made available for the translation of general certificate of secondary education syllabuses into the Welsh language; and if these funds have been sufficient.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

No central assistance has been made available for the production of GCSE syllabuses in any language.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many subject syllabuses for the proposed GCSE examination have been translated into the Welsh language.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

None.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if teachers who teach through the medium of the Welsh language will have facilities equal to their counterparts who teach through the medium of English in Wales for teaching the new courses for the general certificate of secondary education examination.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 17 March 1986, at column37.