HC Deb 09 February 1994 vol 237 cc281-2W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much additional finance has been provided to teach Welsh as a second language to students of constituent colleges of the university of Wales for each year since 1988.

Sir Wyn Roberts

The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales has made £314,500 available to colleges of the University of Wales in 1993–94 for the provision of Welsh courses for adults. Information for earlier years, when the University of Wales was funded by the Universities Funding Council, is not held centrally.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress he is making within the Welsh Office to submit a Welsh language scheme as required by the Welsh Language Act 1993; on what date he will submit the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Wyn Roberts

It is too early to indicate on what date a scheme might be submitted to the Welsh Language Board. The Department's scheme will need to take into account the statutory guidelines which the board will be preparing. A comprehensive internal review of the Department's policy and practice regarding the use of Welsh is currently being conducted. This will be of considerable benefit in formulating our language scheme.