§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel are fluent Russian speakers; and what this figure was in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. NeubertA total of 162 serving military personnel are qualified as Russian interpreters, of whom 32 serve in the Royal Navy, 94 in the Army and 36 in the Royal Air Force. Records are not held in a form which would enable the historical information requested by the hon. Gentleman to be readily provided, but I understand that the number of Russian interpreters has increased modestly in recent years.
§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what incentives are currently operating to encourage military personnel to take Russian language training.
§ Mr. NeubertFinancial rewards are provided in the form of lump sum grants for successful completion of the various levels of Russian language training in the services, with smaller grants being awarded upon requalification in that language. Additionally, members of the Services are encouraged to participate in Russian language training provided at voluntary weekend courses at university and other self-help courses, for which some financial assistance is given.
§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current level of funding for Russian language training for military personnel, and what it was for each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. NeubertI regret that the detailed information sought by the hon. Gentleman concerning expenditure over the last 10 years is not readily available. However, Russian language training at the Defence School of Languages at Beaconsfield is being provided at a cost of about £420,000 in the current year. There is no reason to believe that this differs to any significant degree from the general level of expenditure in the past.