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The MoD allocates approximately one million pounds annually to send students to private educational institutions in north Wales because "state schools teach various classes in the Welsh tongue".

The ministry disbursed £1,019,000 in day school allowance in the northern region for 83 children of service personnel in the current academic year, and nearly one million pounds for seventy-nine students in the previous year under a longstanding practice.

A spokesperson stated "service children can face regular relocations" and the stipend "seeks to minimize disruption to their schooling".

Plaid Cymru called it a "complete waste of funds" and "a disrespect to our tongue" while the Conservatives argued parents should be able to choose the medium in which their children are taught.

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

The website of the military installation on the island tells its personnel, "for those residing and working in north Wales, where state schools teach various classes in the Welsh tongue, you can opt to send your children to an English-language private institution".

"As long as you are joined by your household at your posting, you can use this allowance to cover the expense of tuition fees, educational excursions/residential educational courses and regular commuting."

An MoD spokesperson told, "the purpose of Day School Allowance in the northern region (DSA-NW) is to support military households stationed to the area, where the Welsh tongue is the primary medium of local state education".

"As mobility is a part of service life, service children can encounter frequent moves and from DSA-NW aims to lessen interference to their learning."

"The ministry acknowledges the contributions military members, and their families make, and from DSA-NW assists with the expenses of independent day schooling given in English."

'Where teaching is bilingual or non-English'

The allowance includes tuition fees up to a maximum of twenty-two thousand seven hundred fifty-five pounds annually, £7,585 each semester, and is accessible to personnel residing in the counties of Conwy, Denbighshire, the locality, the island or the district and working in these specific locations:

• RAF Valley, Anglesey
• The combined forces alpine training facility, the island
• Joint Services Mountain Training Wing, Llanrwst
• The university military training program (UOTC), Bangor unit, the city

The qualifying private schools are Treffos institution, Llansadwrn, the island; Rydal Penrhos preparatory institution in the town; St Gerard's school, the city and St David's institution, the town.

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

People stationed elsewhere in the three branches of the military - the Army, 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 qualifying student.

Welsh Conservative Senedd member the politician commented "personnel of the British armed forces move around the country and the world, and the ministry have always sought to guarantee that their children have access to continuity in schooling".

"While we strongly endorse Welsh-language teaching across Wales, it's important to remember there are two official languages in our nation, English and the Welsh language, and municipal authorities and education authorities should accommodate both."

"Families should always have the choice to select the medium in which their kids are taught."

Plaid Cymru's learning representative the assembly member stated "not only is this a complete waste of funding, it is a slight to our tongue".

"It's hard to imagine any valid reason to be allocating such money annually, on preventing young people living in Wales from having the opportunity to acquire the Welsh tongue."

"Bilingualism enhances life and aids the development of young people, but the British administration is obviously blind to this."

"This money is a perfect example of the attitude of the Westminster parties regarding the nation and the Welsh language - namely ignorance and disrespect."