Since the Language Centre opened on 19th September 2013 a total of 45 different languages have been studied there either full or part-time by 813 students. Of those students, 779 are Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff and 34 are from other government departments (OGDs) (including staff from the following departments: Ministry of Defence, Cabinet Office, the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, Home Office, Ministry of Justice, UK Trade and Investment, the Department for International Development, HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Energy and Climate Change, and the House of Commons). An additional 60 FCO staff have trained at the Institut Francais. Staff across the Civil Service can also access the FCO Language Centre library to continue to develop their own language skills outside formal study and 58 OGD staff have taken advantage of this offer so far.<\/p>
It is important to note that when more appropriate, staff from OGDs also receive language training outside of the FCO Language Centre through use of the Civil Service-wide contract with Language Services Direct (the company that run the FCO Language Centre) or at the Institut Francais if French is required. Since September 2014, 113 OGD students have received language training on their own premises via the FCO contract.<\/p>
The table below provides a breakdown of the languages that have been taught at the FCO Language Centre:<\/p>
Albanian<\/p><\/td> | 2<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Arabic<\/p><\/td> | 186<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Azeri<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Bosnian<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Bulgarian<\/p><\/td> | 3<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Burmese<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Cambodian<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Czech<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Danish<\/p><\/td> | 2<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Dari<\/p><\/td> | 5<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Dutch<\/p><\/td> | 5<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Farsi<\/p><\/td> | 33<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Finnish<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
French<\/p><\/td> | 14<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Georgian<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
German<\/p><\/td> | 40<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Greek<\/p><\/td> | 4<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Hebrew<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Hindi<\/p><\/td> | 20<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Indonesian<\/p><\/td> | 4<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Italian<\/p><\/td> | 23<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Japanese<\/p><\/td> | 33<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Korean<\/p><\/td> | 8<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Macedonian<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Mandarin<\/p><\/td> | 93<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Norwegian<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Pashto<\/p><\/td> | 5<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Polish<\/p><\/td> | 3<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Portuguese<\/p><\/td> | 47<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Romanian<\/p><\/td> | 3<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Russian<\/p><\/td> | 84<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Serbian<\/p><\/td> | 3<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Sinhalese<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Slovak<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Slovene<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Spanish<\/p><\/td> | 153<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Swedish<\/p><\/td> | 3<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Tajik<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Thai<\/p><\/td> | 2<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Tigrinya<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Turkish<\/p><\/td> | 11<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Turkmen<\/p><\/td> | 1<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Urdu<\/p><\/td> | 4<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Uzbek<\/p><\/td> | 2<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Vietnamese<\/p><\/td> | 2<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Total<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 813<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-05T15:51:51.0127173Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Civil Servants: Languages"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government which languages have been studied by civil servants and diplomatic staff at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Language School; and how many civil servants and diplomatic staff have studied each language.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3829", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Coussins"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Coussins"}
], "uin" : "HL2340"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100610", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100610/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government is working to increase the number of applicants to the European Civil Service and to increase civil service language training. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) supports all UK applicants, including civil servants, through the EU recruitment process, including advice on how to pass the recruitment tests in a foreign language. The European Fast Stream programme has been re-structured for 2014 and the training updated. As part of this, the language training provided to participants has been revised and tailored to offer more effective preparation for the Commission\u2019s entry exam known as The Concours. There is also language training offered to civil servants through the FCO language centre. Some Government Departments also offer training in-house in different languages.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-05T15:54:59.7503661Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Civil Servants: Languages"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether they expect to see an increase in the numbers of United Kingdom civil servants capable of fulfilling the language requirements for applications to the European Civil Service; and if so by how many, and by when.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3829", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Coussins"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Coussins"}
], "uin" : "HL2341"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100611", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100611/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "Full-time language training is available to all staff on appointment to one of the 674 designated \u2018speaker\u2019 roles based across the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)\u2019s network of posts overseas. Appointment is made following an advert, application and selection by interview for a position. All positions (including speaker roles) in the Senior Management Service are also advertised across the Civil Service. A number of positions (including speaker roles) in the delegated grades are also advertised across the Civil Service via \u2018Interchange\u2019. All FCO staff (or staff from other governmental departments (OGDs) if on Interchange) and their spouses/partners posted to non-speaker roles in a foreign country also have the option of taking up language training to reach a basic level (Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) \u2013 A2 Confidence foreign language proficiency) to help settle into a new posting overseas. FCO staff who wish to develop skills in a foreign language can also attend a rolling programme of part-time lunchtime or evening classes in 12 languages. Where there is space in these classes, OGD staff are offered places based on language learning needs analyses by Departments. Language Services Direct (the company who run the FCO Language Centre) also provide part-time classes to a number of OGDs (the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Cabinet Office, the Department for Energy and Climate Change, the Department for International Development, Members of Parliament, UK Hydrographic Office) on their own premises or at Language Services Direct premises (HM Revenue and Customs). Language Services Direct also run a bespoke training package for staff from both the FCO and across the Civil Service wishing to apply for positions within EU institutions. A number of OGDs also appoint staff, following their own internal appointment processes, to their own \u2018speaker\u2019 roles overseas and are able use the Language Centre for training, or receive training at their own premises from Language Services Direct. To-date over 130 OGD staff have been trained either full-time or part-time at the Centre or at their own premises."}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-05T15:56:28.9626879Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Civil Servants: Languages"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government how civil servants from all departments with the wish or the potential to benefit from a course at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Language School are identified.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3829", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Coussins"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Coussins"}
], "uin" : "HL2342"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100612", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100612/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I refer my noble friend to the answer provided by The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 3 November, Official Report<\/em>, Column WA188.<\/p> There are currently no plans for a formal audit across Government to measure the foreign language skills currently possessed by civil servants.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1816", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Wallace of Saltaire"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Wallace of Saltaire"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-04T16:55:00.4073579Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Civil Servants: Languages"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what plans they have to conduct a comprehensive audit of the foreign language skills currently possessed by civil servants across all departments and government agencies.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3829", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Coussins"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Coussins"}
], "uin" : "HL2343"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100613", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Energy and Climate Change"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100613/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " DECC\u2019s most recently published figures for the levelised costs of electricity generation for different technologies are available in the DECC Electricity Generation Costs (December 2013) report:<\/p> |