Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is undertaking to ensure that a sufficient number of qualified teachers are available in Wales in order to implement the provisions of the Education Act 1988 relating to the teaching of the Welsh language.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsWork is in hand to estimate the number of teachers who will be needed to teach Welsh in the national curriculum. Officials have met local education authority representatives to discuss how the Welsh language provisions of the national curriculum are to be delivered and these discussions will continue. It is clear that the teaching capacity which will be needed must be met, to a large extent, by a programme of in-service training for existing teachers. Teachers training colleges will play an important part in delivering this in-service training programme.
The local education authorities training grant scheme includes a national priority category for Welsh language training. In 1989–90 grant is available towards expenditure of £223,000 under this category. Further funding is also being provided from other Welsh Office programmes to assist authorities to increase their present in-service training provision.
The teaching as a career unit (TASC) and its Welsh-speaking field officer for Wales are making particular efforts to persuade more Welsh speakers to train as teachers. This includes young people leaving school or colleges, and also more mature people seeking a change of career or married women wishing to take up employment.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of whether the financial resources allocated for the coming year to the Welsh language education development committee will be sufficient to allow it to undertake its work during that period; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe resources allocated for 1989–90 are sufficient to meet the Welsh language education development committee's running costs and to undertake a programme for the development of Welsh language education which accords with educational needs. The474W grant offer has been accepted by the committee. In so far as the committee's proposals were not consistent with the needs of the national curriculum, or would have duplicated activity already being undertaken, or were deficient in other respects, they did not receive support. Other proposals needed further development taking account of work being undertaken by other bodies and of the extent of existing provision. Proposals for research are still receiving consideration.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to increase funding for the Welsh language development committee; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe funding for the Welsh language education development committee and for its proposed work programme increased from £248,000 last year to £669,000 this year. As previously announced, additional resources are available to support further work on the development of Welsh language education, and discussions on this are continuing. Funding for future years will be decided taking account of the merits of future proposals and the availability of resources.