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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 Dan Norris (Labour) on Thursday, 8 April 2010 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.


Departmental Languages

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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

In the last 12 months 13 staff members have received foreign language coaching at a cost of £11,643.90. The coaching is provided in French, Spanish and German.DEFRA has significant involvement in the EU policy agenda and the provision of language training for appropriate staff helps ensure that the Department can engage effectively with its European contacts.Ministers did not receive foreign language coaching.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
508 c1499W; 320417
Session
2009-10
Subjects
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Languages
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk