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The MoD spends approximately £1m annually to place students to private educational institutions in north Wales because "public schools teach various lessons in the Welsh tongue".

The ministry disbursed £1,019,000 in educational stipend in the northern region for eighty-three students of military families in 2024-2025, and nearly one million pounds for 79 children in the previous year under a established policy.

An official representative said "service children can experience regular relocations" and the allowance "seeks to minimize interruption to their schooling".

The Welsh party called it a "complete waste of funds" and "an insult to our language" while the Conservatives argued parents should be able to choose the medium in which their children are educated.

The figures were acquired following a request under the public records law.

The website of RAF Valley on the island informs its workforce, "for those residing and working in north Wales, where state schools teach various lessons in the Welsh tongue, you may choose to enroll your children to an English-medium private institution".

"As long as you are accompanied by your household at your posting, you can utilize this benefit to pay for the expense of tuition fees, educational excursions/residential learning programs and regular commuting."

An MoD spokesperson told, "the aim of Day School Allowance in North Wales (DSA-NW) is to assist military households stationed to the region, where Welsh is the main language of public schooling".

"Since relocation is a part of military career, service children can encounter regular transfers and the DSA-NW seeks to lessen disruption to their learning."

"The MoD acknowledges the contributions service personnel, and their relatives make, and from DSA-NW assists with the expenses of private education given in the English language."

'Where teaching is bilingual or non-English'

The benefit includes school costs up to a maximum of £22,755 a year, £7,585 each semester, and is available to people residing in the counties of Conwy, Denbighshire, the locality, the island or Flintshire and serving in these specific locations:

• RAF Valley, the island
• Joint Services Mountain Training Centre, the island
• The joint military mountain unit, Llanrwst
• The university military training program (UOTC), Bangor detachment, the city

The qualifying private schools are Treffos institution, the village, the island; Rydal Penrhos Prep school in Colwyn Bay; St Gerard's school, Bangor and St David's institution, the town.

The applicable military policy document confirms that "payment of the allowance is restricted to those regions where teaching in the public system is on a bilingual or non-English basis".

Personnel serving in other locations in the three branches of the armed forces - the ground forces, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force - can apply for a continuity of education allowance which contributes towards boarding and/or school charges up to a maximum rate, with a minimum parental contribution of ten percent for each qualifying student.

Tory Senedd member Natasha Asghar said "members of the UK military move around the nation and the world, and the MoD has always tried to guarantee that their kids have access to continuity in education".

"Although we strongly endorse Welsh-medium education throughout Wales, it's crucial to recognize there are two official languages in our country, the English tongue and Welsh, and municipal authorities and school boards should provide for both."

"Families should always have the option to select the language in which their children are instructed."

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

"I cannot think of any valid reason to be spending such money annually, on blocking youth residing in Wales from having the opportunity to acquire the Welsh language."

"Dual-language ability enhances life and aids the growth of youth, but the UK government is clearly unaware to this."

"These funds is a perfect example of the attitude of the Westminster parties towards Wales and the native tongue - namely ignorance and insults."