Chamber and committees

As the Scottish Executive doesnot provide funding for Language Network Scotland, its support is limited to providing information andadvice, when requested.

We are aware that Language NetworkScotland plans to request a meeting in the near future with the Enterprise, Transportand Lifelong Learning Department to discuss its contribution to thedepartment’s work and its future funding.

There were no such discussionsprior to this question being lodged.

The Scottish Executive has noplans to develop a framework for language skills for Scottish businesses.

We have no plansto make representations to the Department for Education and Skills in respect ofthis matter.

Language NetworkScotland states its role as “promoting a greater nationalcapability in languages”. This interfaces with school education, where we have guaranteedthe opportunity to learn a modern European language starting in primary school,and with lifelong learning, where our colleges and universities continue to provideopportunities for students to develop their language skills. This includes innovationssuch as the University of Strathclyde’s Certificate in Applied Language Study, a new degree-level qualificationwhich recognises professional competence in language at work.

I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-24829 on 24 April 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

No research has been carriedout or commissioned by us into the benefits of the work of Language Network Scotland.

The Language SkillsAlliance, funded by the Sector Skills Development Agency, is a new partnership whichaims to ensure languages are considered in skills strategy developments across allsectors of employment. The partnership is made up of the Sector Skills DevelopmentAgency, GoSkills which is the lead Sector Skills Council for languages and CILT,the National Centre for Languages.

The alliance willsupport employers in helping them to articulate demand for language skills thatcan be translated into appropriate education and training programmes for young peopleand adults. Languages will be integrated into skills planning and qualificationsframeworks for a wide range of sectors of the economy.

The Enterprise Networksprovide advice and support to all Scotland’s businesses,including advice on export. The Sector Skills Development Agency is funding theLanguage Skills Alliance, which will support employers in helping them to articulatedemand for language skills that can be translated into appropriate education andtraining programmes for young people and adults. Languages will be integrated intoskills planning and qualifications frameworks for a wide range of sectors of theeconomy. We are also committed to ensuring that all school students have the opportunityto learn a modern language, beginning no later than primary 6.

A Smart Successful Scotland,Scotland’s Strategy for Enterprise, states that the Enterprise Networks should work withexporters to help them better penetrate existing markets, access new ones and developtheir capacity to become more competitive suppliers to overseas markets. Both EnterpriseNetworks have put in place a variety of support measures to ensure that businessesknow how to go about this.