§ Mr. HollandTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his officials at administrative grade are qualified, respectively, at(a) O-level, (b) A or S-level, (c) diploma and (d) university degree level in (i) French and (ii) another European Community language; and what procedures are operated by his Department to ensure that documents of the European Communities placed before the House are properly translated.
§ 304. Mrs. ChalkerFor diplomatic service staff the information on language qualifications is as follows:
(i)(a) 1,383; (i)(b) 914; (i)(c) 367; (i)(d) 313; (ii)(a) 1,733; (ii)(b) 757; (ii)(c) 495; (ii)(d)
Information on the language qualifications of ODA staff is not held in the same way as information for diplomatic service officers. But my hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development will write to the hon. Member when the information that is available has been assembled.
466WThe Commission is responsible for the translation of Community documents. To check all translations in London would not be operationally feasible and would greatly delay the depositing of documents in Parliament.