All school children in Wales will be offered a bilingual book to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The UK Government has spent almost £12m on the plan.
As education is devolved to Wales, the Welsh Government has had the final say on the book being given to children in Wales. The Welsh Government has today confirmed it will be offered to children in school, but schools will have to opt-in to receive it.
The book was brought up in the Commons during Welsh questions by Aberconwy Conservative MP Robin Millar. He said: "The UK Government has funded a book for every school child in the UK commemorating the Platinum Jubilee. A bilingual version has been printed for school children in Wales. What steps is the minister taking to ensure children in Wales, in Aberconwy, even Ynys Mon, will also receive a copy of that book?"
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Wales Office minister David TC Davies replied saying that the UK Government wanted to celebrate the "amazing achievement" of the Queen. He said it will allow children to learn about the "contribution that has been made by HM the Queen. I'm sure they all look forward eagerly to receiving their copy and the UK Government is working with Welsh Government to ensure that can happen imminently."
The Welsh Government had previously said it would decide whether the book would be distributed in Wales. The UK Government has spent £11.9m on the books with the contract awarded to DK Books. The contract says the deal was also to produce a hardback, case bound book without a dust jacket in three languages English, a bi-lingual English/Welsh one and a Gaelic version as well as downloadable audio versions in English, Welsh and Gaelic. It must include the Platinum Jubilee Emblem, of which there is also a bilingual version. There must be 211,000 pupils for 1,290 schools and other educational establishments in Wales, according to the tender. The book will be between 80 and 96 pages in length.
