40261 2009-10 672 Graham Stuart 2010-01-20 That this House is concerned that the number of state school children taking languages at GCSE has dropped by a third in seven years to just 362,500 in the summer of 2009; notes that at 31 state secondary schools last year not a single student passed a foreign language GCSE; believes that some schools, particularly in deprived areas, have reduced language teaching in favour of easier subjects in order to improve league table scores; further notes that many companies demand competency in at least one foreign language as a condition of employment; further believes that, as a result, children in deprived areas are placed at a disadvantage; welcomes the Government's plan to introduce compulsory foreign language education for seven to 11 year olds in 2011; and calls on the Government to reverse its decision in 2004 to make the study of foreign languages optional from the age of 14 years onwards. Schools Graham Stuart 2010-01-20 Proposed Beverley & Holderness Conservative John Hemming 2010-01-20 Seconded Birmingham, Yardley Liberal Democrat Kelvin Hopkins 2010-01-20 Seconded Luton North Labour Daniel Kawczynski 2010-01-20 Seconded Shrewsbury & Atcham Conservative David Davies 2010-01-20 Seconded Monmouth Conservative Humfrey Malins 2010-01-20 Seconded Woking Conservative Peter Bottomley 2010-01-20 Signed Worthing West Conservative Nick Harvey 2010-01-21 Signed North Devon Liberal Democrat David Drew 2010-01-21 Signed Stroud Labour John Battle 2010-01-21 Signed Leeds West Labour Ann Winterton 2010-01-21 Signed Congleton Conservative Robert Wareing 2010-01-25 Signed Liverpool, West Derby Independent Bill Etherington 2010-01-25 Signed Sunderland North Labour Andrew Dismore 2010-01-25 Signed Hendon Labour Alan Simpson 2010-01-26 Signed Nottingham South Labour Colin Breed 2010-01-26 Signed South East Cornwall Liberal Democrat Martin Caton 2010-01-26 Signed Gower Labour Ann Cryer 2010-01-26 Signed Keighley Labour Mike Hancock 2010-01-26 Signed Portsmouth South Liberal Democrat Eric Illsley 2010-01-27 Signed Barnsley Central Labour Malcolm Moss 2010-01-28 Signed North East Cambridgeshire Conservative Rudi Vis 2010-01-28 Signed Finchley & Golders Green Labour Harry Cohen 2010-01-29 Signed Leyton & Wanstead Labour Paul Flynn 2010-02-02 Signed Newport West Labour Edward O'Hara 2010-02-10 Signed Knowsley South Labour