To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail (i) how he plans to support the study of the Chinese language and culture; and (ii) whether there are plans for further investment.

My Department provides funding and sets the strategic direction for the higher and further education sectors. However, decisions regarding course provision and curriculum, including Chinese language and culture, are a matter for individual institutions.

My Department does not currently allocate any specific funds to our universities for the study of Chinese language and culture and has no plans to do so. However, my Department funds the UK wide Study China programme. This funding enables up to 45 Northern Ireland students to avail of a three week cultural mobility opportunity to partner universities in China. This funding is in place to July 2016, and future funding will be considered as part of the spending review.