FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING AND THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

That this House recognises that the linguistic skills of British diplomats are amongst the best in the world; believes that these skills bring untold advantages to the UK in many parts of the world; acknowledges that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) foreign language teaching has been a centre of excellence for many years and has taught over 1,000 FCO staff in the last three years; notes that the FCO foreign language teaching operation has permanent teachers in 14 languages and employs lecturers on a flexible basis in a further 27 languages; further notes that the FCO intends to close its foreign language teaching operation and outsource it in return for a small saving; and calls on the Foreign Secretary to reverse this decision and maintain this much needed and highly regarded service.