A-LEVEL POLISH

Early day motion 675, tabled 22 January 1998 by Tom Levitt (Labour). Signed by 146 members.

That this House notes that approximately 100 students per year are entered for the A-level examination in Polish; notes also that all entries in recent years have been via a single examination board, namely Edexcel (University of London); feels that it should be the right of all citizens to be able to study and gain qualifications in the language of their birth, culture or heritage, or to study a language for vocational or non-vocational purposes; feels also that in the light of the future enlargement of the European Union, Polish is likely to become a more important tool in the language of international trade and relations; notes that Edexcel is currently reviewing its provision of A-level Polish with a view to discontinuing the service; and calls upon the Government to urge Edexcel to continue to provide an annual A-level Polish examination and to discuss with them ways in which such provision can be maintained in future.

Signatures by party: Labour 94, Liberal Democrat 17, Conservative 14, Labour/Co-operative 9, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 2, UUP 2, DUP 1, Independent 1, Independent Conservative 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UKUP 1.