Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to increase the level of English language training in under-developed countries.

The UK has significant investments in English language, especially through the British Council and the BBC World Service. In DFID we support a range of programmes including: improving the quality of English language teaching in Rwanda, a skills hub supporting the biggest African economies (including Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria) to scale up English language learning and providing opportunities for UK teachers to volunteer in schools overseas. The Foreign Secretary launched English Connects for francophone countries in West Africa on his recent visit.