Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled Integrated Review Refresh 2023: Responding to a more contested and volatile world, published on 13 March 2023, how many people will be trained to speak Mandarin by his Department in the next 12 months.

In FY22/23 the China Capability programme funded 100 new places in part-time Mandarin lessons for staff across government, from beginner to advanced level, which will be expanded over the next 12 months. This is in addition to part-time FCDO Mandarin language classes, which are available to any FCDO staff member on an optional basis. The FCDO also ensures there is a pipeline of staff undertaking full-time language training in preparation for specific postings to the China network.