Education: Languages

Debate between Lord Hill of Oareford and Baroness Hooper

Thursday 1st July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hooper]

My Lords, can my noble friend give more information about the scope and background to the Paris declaration and tell us if the United Kingdom is a party to it?

[Lord Hill of Oareford]

The background of the declaration is a report into the shortage of trained linguists and translators. I saw a figure somewhere in connection with this, which estimates that the value of translation services in the EU is €1 billion a year. It is a big market, which should provide lots of opportunities for trained linguists to benefit. I do not believe that the Government were involved in the process of the declaration.