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The MoD allocates approximately one million pounds annually to place children to independent educational institutions in north Wales because "state schools provide various classes in the Welsh language".

It paid over one million pounds in educational stipend in the northern region for 83 children of military families in 2024-2025, and nearly one million pounds for 79 children in the previous year under a established practice.

An official representative stated "service children can face frequent moves" and the stipend "seeks to reduce disruption to their schooling".

The Welsh party called it a "total misuse of money" and "a disrespect to our language" while the Tory party argued families should be able to choose the medium in which their children are educated.

The figures were obtained following a inquiry under the Freedom of Information Act.

The online portal of RAF Valley on Anglesey informs its workforce, "for those residing and working in north Wales, where public schools teach some or all lessons in the Welsh language, you can opt to send your children to an English-medium independent school".

"Provided you are joined by your household at your duty station, you can utilize this benefit to cover the cost of school charges, field study trips/residential educational courses and regular commuting."

An MoD spokesperson explained, "the aim of Day School Allowance in the northern region (DSA-NW) is to assist military households posted to the region, where Welsh is the primary medium of public schooling".

"As mobility is a aspect of service life, military kids can encounter regular transfers and from DSA-NW seeks to lessen disruption to their learning."

"The MoD acknowledges the sacrifices service personnel, and their families make, and through DSA-NW assists with the costs of private education given in English."

'In Areas With Bilingual or Non-English Instruction'

The benefit includes tuition fees up to a limit of £22,755 annually, £7,585 each semester, and is accessible to people residing in the counties of Conwy, the area, Gwynedd, the island or the district and working in one of the following establishments:

• The military base, the island
• The combined forces alpine training facility, the island
• The joint military mountain unit, Llanrwst
• The university military training program (UOTC), Bangor detachment, Caernarfon

The qualifying independent institutions are Treffos institution, the village, the island; Rydal Penrhos preparatory institution in the town; St Gerard's, the city and St David's institution, the town.

The relevant joint service publication confirms that "payment of the stipend is restricted to those areas where teaching in the public system is on a dual-language or non-English foundation".

People stationed in other locations in the multiple services of the armed forces - the ground forces, the Royal Navy and the air service - can apply for a educational continuity benefit which contributes towards boarding and/or tuition fees up to a maximum rate, with a required family share of 10% for each eligible child.

Tory Senedd member Natasha Asghar commented "members of the UK military relocate across the nation and the world, and the ministry have always sought to ensure that their children have availability to consistency in schooling".

"Although we strongly endorse Welsh-medium education across Wales, it's important to remember there are two official languages in our nation, the English tongue and Welsh, and municipal authorities and school boards should accommodate each."

"Families should always have the option to decide the medium in which their children are instructed."

The Welsh party's education spokesperson the assembly member said "not just is this a complete waste of funding, it is a slight to our language".

"It's hard to imagine any justifiable cause to be allocating such money every year, on preventing youth residing in the country from having the chance to acquire the Welsh tongue."

"Dual-language ability enhances life and supports the growth of youth, but the British administration is obviously unaware to this."

"These funds is a perfect example of the attitude of the UK political groups regarding Wales and the Welsh language - namely unawareness and insults."