HC Deb 27 July 1989 vol 157 cc801-2W
Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many national curriculum documents he has despatched to local education authority schools by heading and by volume; what is the estimated cost of(a) production and (b) despatch; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The following documents in connection with the national curriculum have been distributed to local education authorities and schools by the Welsh Office. Most of the documents are produced and distributed by the Department and costs cannot be separately identified: Circular 14/89: National Curriculum Mathematics and Science Orders. Circular 15/89: The School Curriculum and Assessment. Circular 32/89: Modern Foreign Languages in the National Curriculum. Draft Circular and draft Regulations: National Curriculum Temporary Exceptions for Individual Pupils. Draft Circular and draft Regulations: Information for Parents. Draft Regulations: Exemptions from English at Key Stage 1. Circular letter to Headteachers: National Curriculum Implementation. Guidance Note: LEA Training Grant Scheme and ESG—National Curriculum Development Plans. Education (National Curriculum) (Attainment Targets and Programmes of Study in Mathematics) Order 1989. Preceded by the Proposals of the Secretaries of State and consultation documents. Education (National Curriculum) (Attainment Targets and Programmes of Study in Science) Order 1989. Preceded by the Proposals of the Secretaries of State and consultation documents. Education (National Curriculum) (Attainment Targets and Programmes of Study in English) Order 1989. Preceded by the Proposals of the Secretaries of State and consultation documents. Design and Technology for ages 5–16. Proposals of the Secretary of State for Education and Science and the Secretary of State for Wales. English for ages 5–16. Proposals of the Secretary of State for Education and Science and the Secretary of State for Wales. Welsh for ages 5–16. Proposals of the Secretary of State for Wales. TVEI and the National Curriculum in Wales: The Way Forward. Teachers Guide to the National Curriculum. National Curriculum: Task Group on Assessment and Testing (TGAT)—report. English for ages 5–11: booklet. English and the National Curriculum Key Stage 1: booklet.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he will take to assist those schools and local education authorities who are having difficulty in obtaining in good time national curriculum documents; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The distribution of national curriculum documents from the Department to schools normally takes place through local education authorities but some urgent documents have been distributed to local education authorities and all schools directly. Both methods have involved tight delivery schedules and material has been distributed as quickly as possible. Officials continue to seek improvements in the efficiency and speed of the distribution network.