HC Deb 05 July 1962 vol 662 cc675-7
15. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to facilitate the development of English as an international language.

Sir D. Eccles

In a speech on 13th June I outlined a three-point programme. This is in essence to establish standards of English; to develop mass media for use in teaching it; and to train and send overseas experts who will train others to teach it. Bodies which could plan or carry out research on standards and mass media already exist in this country, and following the recent Commonwealth Education Conference at Delhi we are providing 30 expert teacher-trainers. But the scale of our effort is quite inadequate. A combined drive by all the English-speaking peoples is needed, and I am considering how best to set about this.

Mr. Woodburn

I welcome that reply so far as it goes. Has the Minister's attention been called to the recent report of the Federation of British Industries on the necessity of setting up a National Institute of English, that this is in the Report of the Commonwealth Conference to which he has referred, and that statistics show that English is winning the race as a European and an international language? Is he prepared to take any steps to help these people, both children and adults abroad and in the Colonies, by producing some sort of basic English, rather more extensive than the wartime method, to facilitate the learning of English and get rid of some of the stupidities which make it almost impossible for foreigners to understand it.

Sir D. Eccles

We are considering all these matters, but it is necessary to bring the Americans into this, as it is their language as well as ours.

Mr. Fell

Is this not a rather important paint, seeing that so far the Europeans' combined knowledge of English has not been able to produce a legal translation of the Treaty of Rome, and would it not be a good thing to take some advice from the right hon. Gentleman who proposed this?

Sir J. Pitman

While welcoming very much the speech of the Minister in Rome, may I ask him how it has bean received in other parts, particularly in America and the Commonwealth, and when he thinks that we may be in a position to get on from potential action to the prospect that he has pointed out?

Sir D. Eccles

I think that I can say that it has been well received and that some charitable foundations are interested in it. I hope that in the autumn I shall be able to make a statement.