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Written Question
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Languages
Thursday 3rd March 2016

Asked by: Charlotte Leslie (Conservative - Bristol North West)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) Arabic speakers with an operational level (C1) examination pass and (b) Mandarin Cantonese speakers were employed by his Department in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2010.

Answered by Tobias Ellwood

I refer my rt hon. Friend to my answer of 10 February 2016 (PQ 25484).

Written Question
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Languages
Thursday 3rd March 2016

Asked by: Charlotte Leslie (Conservative - Bristol North West)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many officials of his Department had an operational level (C1) examination pass in which languages in (a) 2001 and (b) 2010.

Answered by Tobias Ellwood

I refer my right hon. Friend to my answers of 10 February 2016 (PQs 23665 and 25484). We only record current C1 passes, valid for five years after the date of the exam, and therefore do not have pre-2010 data.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 02 Mar 2016
Egypt: British Support

"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Pritchard. I refer right hon. and hon. Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.

I too have been able to visit Egypt to inform myself about what has been and is now going on. I associate …..."
Charlotte Leslie - View Speech

View all Charlotte Leslie (Con - Bristol North West) contributions to the debate on: Egypt: British Support
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 02 Mar 2016
Egypt: British Support

"I thank my hon. Friend for clarifying that. There was of course a democratic process after considerable institutional and constitutional preparations were made for the transition, which, given the context, was quite remarkable, particularly compared with the fates of other countries surrounding Egypt. I was referring to the fact that …..."
Charlotte Leslie - View Speech

View all Charlotte Leslie (Con - Bristol North West) contributions to the debate on: Egypt: British Support
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 02 Mar 2016
Egypt: British Support

"My hon. Friend makes the case most eloquently. The more that we can help the Egyptian Government to stabilise institutionally and to have a better grip on its institutions, the more we can help the security services to operate in a way that we in the west like to see …..."
Charlotte Leslie - View Speech

View all Charlotte Leslie (Con - Bristol North West) contributions to the debate on: Egypt: British Support
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 02 Mar 2016
Egypt: British Support

"Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the very appointment of a trade envoy to Egypt—our current envoy is excellent—illustrates that the Government really want to engage? Does he also agree that in John Casson and Nasser Kamel we have two good ambassadors who are extremely good at engaging with their …..."
Charlotte Leslie - View Speech

View all Charlotte Leslie (Con - Bristol North West) contributions to the debate on: Egypt: British Support
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 02 Mar 2016
Egypt: British Support

"Will the hon. Gentleman join me in becoming one of the first people on a flight back to Sharm el-Sheikh? I am asking him on holiday...."
Charlotte Leslie - View Speech

View all Charlotte Leslie (Con - Bristol North West) contributions to the debate on: Egypt: British Support
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 02 Mar 2016
Egypt: British Support

"Although I agree with much of what the hon. Lady outlines, does she agree that there is a ray of hope in that in the new Parliament, it is surprising how many women representatives, in particular, there are and how many people from different faiths?..."
Charlotte Leslie - View Speech

View all Charlotte Leslie (Con - Bristol North West) contributions to the debate on: Egypt: British Support
Written Question
Foreign and Commonwealth office: Languages
Wednesday 10th February 2016

Asked by: Charlotte Leslie (Conservative - Bristol North West)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many officials in his Department have undertaken Foreign and Commonwealth Office language classes in each year from 2006.

Answered by Tobias Ellwood

In 2014 there were 255 officers in full time language training with an additional 332 officers and/ or spouses attending part time language classes. In 2015 there were 332 officers in full time language training and 767 officers/spouses following part time language classes. To provide statistics for the years 2006-2013 would incur disproportionate costs.
Written Question
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Languages
Wednesday 10th February 2016

Asked by: Charlotte Leslie (Conservative - Bristol North West)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2016 to Question 23665, how many (a) Arabic speakers with an Operational level (C1) examination pass and (b) Mandarin/Cantonese speakers there were employed in his Department in each year since 2006.

Answered by Tobias Ellwood

Records from the last five years show that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has 51 officers who have a current Operational Level (C1) Arabic pass and 44 officers with a C1 pass in Mandarin/ Cantonese. We only record current C1 passes, valid for five years after the date of the exam, and therefore do not have pre-2010 data.