To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what external language training providers his Department has used in the last 12 months. (242719)

Requirements for language training are assessed by each office based upon business priorities and securing value for money in the local market. The Department for International Development (DFID) consists of approximately 100 sub-departments and overseas offices with devolved authority for financing and arranging such training. It is not possible, without incurring disproportionate cost, to provide details of all the language providers used in the last 12 months. However, from the data we do hold centrally, we can report that for 2007-08 the two major providers used to provide language training are Communicaid Global Communications and Linguerama.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his Department’s staff are undergoing of language training, broken down by the language in which training is being provided. (242720)

Reporting how many Department for International Development (DFID) staff are in receipt of language training, broken down by the language in which training is being provided cannot be achieved without incurring disproportionate cost.

Requirements for language training are assessed by each office based upon business priorities and securing value for money in the local market.

DFID consists of approximately 100 sub-departments and overseas offices with devolved authority for financing and arranging training. There are limited centrally held records.