HC Deb 23 January 1990 vol 165 cc608-10W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the representations he has received against the Welsh Language Board's practical options for the use of Welsh in business;

(2) if he will take steps to encourage businesses located and operating in Wales to implement the Welsh Language Board's practical options for the use of Welsh in business.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

Businesses in Wales will wish to consider their own response to the board's guidelines for the private sector. No formal representations have been received following their publication.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total direct expenditure by his Department in support of the Welsh language in each financial year between 1980–81 and 1989–90.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

Direct Government support for the Welsh language is provided through grants for developments in bilingual education and for assistance to the Welsh language. The figures are shown in the following table:

Year £
1980–81 893,000
1981–82 1,611,630
1982–83 1,755,726
1983–84 2,002,136
1984–85 1,986,825
1985–86 2,421,507
1986–87 2,527,755
1987–88 2,823,188
1988–89 3,345,987
11989–90 4,431,000
1 Provision (outturn figures for other years).

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on his approach to the principle of equal validity in respect of the Welsh language;

(2) what consultations he is undertaking with interested people and organisations on the Welsh Language Board's recommendations for legislation for the care of the Welsh language.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The Welsh Language Board has presented my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State with proposals for legislation based on the principles of equal validity. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is considering with the board the practical implications of these proposals.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that Welsh-speakers should have the right to require all public bodies to deal with them, in writing and verbally, in Welsh whenever practicable.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

This is one of the features of the Welsh Language Board's legislative proposals which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is currently considering.

Mr. Gwilym Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the supplement to attract students to Welsh medium initial teacher training courses has been effective; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The incentive supplement was introduced in 1988 as a two-year pilot project aimed at increasing the supply of Welsh medium teachers in the secondary sector. The supplement was available only to those students who it is thought needed extra tuition in Welsh so that they have the confidence to pursue their studies and classroom training through the medium of Welsh.

In 1988, 30 students received a supplement and 26 of these subsequently obtained teaching posts in Wales. Forty-three students received supplements in 1989.

I have concluded that the supplement appears to have been successful in encouraging Welsh-speaking graduates to pursue Welsh medium initial teacher training courses. However, in order that a more detailed evaluation of the scheme can be undertaken, I have decided that the pilot should be extended for a further two years.

The demand for Welsh medium teaching in Wales continues to increase in both primary and secondary phases. To ensure that this demand is met, I have asked my officials to discuss with the relevant initial teacher training institutions ways in which a supplement might be provided to increase the number of students attending Welsh medium initial teacher training primary courses.