Written question asked by Lord Hammond of Runnymede (Conservative) on Monday, 1 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 3 March 2010. It was answered by Pat McFadden (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 March 2010 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Departmental Languages

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants in his Department received coaching in a foreign language in the last 12 months; what expenditure his Department incurred in providing such coaching; and in what languages such coaching was provided.

Answer: Foreign language coaching is not provided for staff or Ministers in BIS. We do provide access to language training in a range of languages including French, Spanish and Portuguese, although the information about which languages have been studied is not centrally monitored. This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.In the last 12 months the following language training has been funded:Ministers"£0.00"Civil servants"£29,529 (including £5,372 spent within UKTI)."

Secondary information