GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR LANGUAGE ASSISTANTSHIPS

That this House notes with concern the uncertainty over funding by the Department for Education for language assistantships for students from across the UK at English and Welsh universities to teach in schools abroad as part of their language degree in 2011-12; expresses the hope that the Department will approve funding as soon as possible so that recruitment for 2011 can go ahead as normal; and further notes the value of first-hand experience of a foreign culture not just to students once they start work but also to the UK economy, as many such students will go on to work in businesses which are involved in trade with other countries in the EU.