Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on language teaching in primary schools; and if he will make a statement. [132918]

Elizabeth Truss, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Education [holding answer 10 December 2012]: We believe that an early start to language teaching will inspire pupils with a love of languages, improve their literacy and cognitive skills and benefit their education in secondary school. We have therefore confirmed, subject to parliamentary approval, our decision that teaching a foreign language at key stage 2 will be a statutory requirement in all maintained schools from September 2014.

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