§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received on the introduction of the General Certificate of Secondary Education syllabus in Welsh schools; if he plans to increase cash support for the examination; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsSince the start of the present school term representation about resources for the introduction of the GCSE have been received from three local education authorities, three parent teacher associations, one school governing body, one teacher and two parents. Considerable resources have been made available to local education authorities; special funding for books and equipment during 1986–87 of £300,000 from MSG and more than £900,000 through the education support grant mechanism, and £1.2 million over the two years 1987–88630W and 1988–89. The Government consider that these resources are sufficient to ensure the smooth introduction of the GCSE bearing in mind that they are intended to be additional to adequate local authority provision through secondary school capitation allowances.