To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether his Department has provided voice coaching to any of its employees in the last 12 months. (260650)

Voice coach training is not part of the core training and development offering available to staff in the Department. However, local managers are able to book external courses based on identified need and value for money. A search of local records would result in disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2009, Official Report, column 1095W, on departmental training, which Ministers attended (a) foreign language lessons, (b) the Cabinet Committees course, (c) the European Union course and (d) the media training course; in what foreign languages Ministers received lessons; and how much each of these courses cost. (265660)

Of the four courses referred to in my earlier answer the Cabinet Committee courses and European Union courses incurred no cost to the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills. The other two courses referred to in my earlier answer were foreign language lessons and media training. These cost £1,343 and £1,276 respectively.

Identifying Ministers who undertake training would, or would be likely to, discourage participation in future training sessions, acting as a disincentive for Ministers to undertake formal professional development.