Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to assist small and medium-sized enterprises with language skills in order to help build export growth in preparation for, and following, the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

We recognise the importance of language skills to the export success of our country. The Government’s new GREAT website (www.GREAT.gov.uk) contains a wide variety of material for both new and experienced exporters, including information on addressing language and cultural issues when pursuing international business opportunities.

The country guides available on the website (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/exporting-country-guides) make specific reference to legal and cultural issues that a UK business needs to consider when doing business overseas. These guides will be updated on a regular basis, when necessary.