HC Deb 20 April 1989 vol 151 cc268-9W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what representations he has received about the status of modern Hebrew in the GCSE curriculum;

(2) if he will make a statement about the position of modern Hebrew in the GCSE modern language schedules;

(3) if he will consider revising the GCSE schedules to include modern Hebrew; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any issue concerning the GCSE in modern Hebrew. We assume that the hon. Member is referring to the draft order on modern foreign languages in the national curriculum and the proposals which my right hon. Friend announced in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Knapman) on 3 March at column338. My right hon. Friend has received a small number of representations from organisations, local education authorities, teachers and others about the place of modern Hebrew in the national curriculum. We are at present considering the responses received during the consultation period.