§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the general availability of language teachers in the United Kingdom; and what measures he will take to increase their number.
§ Mr. ForthFor England and Wales, in January 1992 secondary schools reported that only 1.2 per cent.—162—of teaching posts in modern foreign languages were vacant.
A £1,500 tax-free bursary has been offered since 1990 to encourage graduates to undertake initial teacher training in modern foreign languages. Recruitment to such training rose in 1990 and 1991 by 30.3 per cent. and 35.2 per cent. respectively, and 1992 is expected to show a further increase.
447WInformation in respect of Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.