Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the Government's policy towards the Lingua programme proposed by the European Commission;
(2) what is the budget contribution from the United Kingdom for five years from 1994, as part of the Lingua programme;
(3) what projects have been prepared for submission to the Lingua programme proposed by the European Community;
(4) how much has been spent on preparatory work on the Lingua programme proposed by the European Commission.
Mr. JacksonModern languages are a key part of the national curriculum and the Government attach great importance to improving our performance in this field. Provided an appropriate legal base can be agreed, the Government are prepared to support those parts of the proposed Lingua programme which relate to student mobility, in-service training for teachers, programmes of co-operation in language teaching between higher education institutions and language training for firms. It is not prepared to support proposals for Community action in areas of school education, which are matters for individual member states. Until the size and shape of the Lingua programme have been agreed, it is not possible to forecast the United Kingdom's budgetary contribution to it, or to invite the submission of projects within it. Preparatory work in this country has to date been limited to that required for negotiating the text of the decision establishing the programme.