This compared with an EU average of 56 per cent speaking at least one foreign language, 28 per cent at least two, and 11 per cent at least three.The UK was one of just six EU countries - with Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Portugal and Spain - where the majority of citizens did not speak any language other than their mother tongue.The survey also confirmed that English was the most widely-spoken foreign language throughout Europe, with 51 per cent of EU citizens able to hold a conversation in English, including 13 per cent for whom it was their mother tongue.The report warned that there was a growing divide between multilingual and monolingual Europeans."A multilingual European is likely to be young, well-educated or still studying, born in a country other than the country of residence, who uses foreign languages for professional reasons and is motivated to learn," the report concluded. This compared with an average of 44 per cent across the EU and just 1 per cent in Luxembourg, the top-ranking country. Only Ireland, with 66 per cent, outdid Britain, but the situation is complicated there because 11 per cent of the population count Irish as their mother tongue - and virtually all of those can also speak English.About 700 people were interviewed in every EU country in November and December last year for the report, Europeans and their Languages.The survey monitored progress towards the EU target for all citizens to speak two languages in addition to their mother tongue. Almost two in three Britons are unable to speak a language other than English, in effect the worst record in Europe, a survey for the European Commission has found. Sixty-two per cent of respondents from the United Kingdom admitted they could not speak any language other than their mother tongue.

But as a result of the study, ministers are to offer the programme to every primary school.. In another, Plymouth, one school recorded a drop in the number of serious playground incidents from 15 to none in the first year of the scheme.The Government has tended to concentrate on the "zero tolerance" approach. In PE lessons, for instance, they taught children the concept of fair play, working in teams and how to be good winners or losers.The results were that - in one local education authority, Southend in Essex - 90 per cent of schools reported a reduction in exclusions and 80 per cent improved attendance. The research, published today, looked at 250 primary schools involved in a pilot aimed at curbing unruly behaviour. The team from London University's Institute of Education foundthat the "softly, softly" approach had achieved a remarkable success in reducing poor behaviour and improving attendance. It also led to improved performance in national curriculum English and maths tests for 11-year-olds.Teachers were encouraged to focus on improving behaviour in all subjects - instead of just relying on a rule book.

Teaching good manners and fair play can be more effective than the smack of firm discipline in improving pupils' behaviour, government research has found. But the BBC will also double the money spent on buying British films to about £11m a year, depending on a successful conclusion to licence-fee negotiations.John Woodward, chief executive of the UK Film Council, said the investment would "take the BBC and catapult it into the position of becoming the broadcasting cornerstone of the British film industry".Combined with the positive negotiation of new tax breaks for the film industry, this was a "turning point in the fortunes of the British production sector," he said.. High-profile series, such as David Attenborough's forthcoming Planet Earth, could be reformatted. The BBC is to invest up to £300m producing and buying British films over the next decade in a significant boost to the domestic industry. The corporation's successes include Billy Elliot, Mrs Henderson Presents and Dirty Pretty Things but it has been criticised by the Government and the Film Council for not doing more. In response, it said yesterday it had signed a formal memorandum of understanding with the UK Film Council to increase by at least 50 per cent a year the money it puts into film, from £10m to £15m or even £20m.Among the likely beneficiaries are TV comedians, whose talents the BBC is keen to exploit.

"Early on, he realised he'd only last the pace by giving up booze."Not that Huhne's passed up opportunities to press flesh in bars and clubs, you understand."He's been drinking an alcohol-free beer called Kaliber," adds my source. "It helps him look the part, but apparently tastes pretty foul.Who said Lib Dems can't do spin?pandora independent.co.uk. "Unfortunately, as usual, taxpayers foot the bill."* Chris Huhne has spent at least part of his Liberal Democrat leadership campaign side-stepping the awkward "drug" question.But whatever skeletons lie in his closet, evidence suggests that (these days, at least) Huhne is more puritan than we previously thought.An aide to the Liberal Democrat front runner tells me that he's been "on the wagon" since canvassing began in earnest last month."Chris likes a drink, but, unlike Ming, wanted to attend every single hustings," I'm told. But according to the letter of the law, Jones isn't actually allowed to own any guns.Two years ago, his shotgun certificate was revoked after he was convicted of "threatening behaviour" on a flight to Tokyo.Hertfordshire constabulary confirms that Jones hasn't applied to get it back, and is still very much banned from keeping shooters under his roof.The tweed sporting outfit that he poses in for Hello! must be for show then.* Alistair Darling may have as much charisma as a culled badger, but he certainly seems to know how to throw a party.According to a written parliamentary answer, no fewer than 60 "acts of vandalism" occurred at the Transport Secretary's offices last year.Most were at regional buildings, but one particularly expensive incident took place "inside the actual Department for Transport".It caused "damage to internal doors, cabinets, the discharging of a fire extinguisher, and damage to a vending machine".So what went on? "Someone had one hell of a Christmas party," reckons Tory MP David Davies. What Dame Anita calls 'Pimp and Ho chic', we call a trend."Superdrug's goodie bag includes false eyelashes and nails, gold chains, bangles, hoop ear-rings and body shimmer.A spokesman for Roddick yesterday declined to comment on the "Ho Yourself" kit, until she'd had time to try it out.* I do hope Vinnie Jones isn't about to hear an ominous knock on his door from the Old Bill.This week's edition of Hello! magazine carries an "at home" interview with the noted actor and country gent.Discussing the ongoing home improvements at his Hertfordshire pad, Jones talks about a new "boys' room" being built there."They [Mr and Mrs Jones] are constructing a wooden cabin where Vinnie can store his guns and fishing equipment," we learn.So far, so good. "It's a little simplistic to say that wearing bling and looking glamorous promotes the sex trade."After all, wearing a hippy-inspired gypsy skirt doesn't make people take LSD and cannabis Wearing a nose-ring doesn't make you a punk. And so he did."Since the PM's son started work on Capitol Hill - with the Republican Congressman David Dreier - he's made quite an impression on the statuesque Aitken, who describes him as "really nice and confident".If he does end up studying in the US, political anoraks will announce the start of a trend: in 2000, Bill Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, came to Blighty to study at Oxford.* Anita Roddick's stern comments on so-called "pimp-chic" have sparked a propaganda war on Britain's high streets.The retailer Superdrug, a no-frills rival to Roddick's Body Shop, is particularly narked, and reckons they're a backhanded insult to its customers.By way of a riposte, the firm has therefore delivered a special "Ho Yourself" kit to Dame Anita's Sussex office."At Superdrug, we love Beyonce and the glamour of bling," says a spokesman.

"Euan got my number through a mutual friend, and rang up saying he knew I went to Georgetown in Washington, and asking if I'd a moment for a drink," she tells me."We chatted several times, and I mentioned that Georgetown has the best politics course in the world."I said it would be best for him to become an intern there, like I was, to get a feel for the city and for American politics in general. Whether I'm back on television or not, in my head that's not me winning. My family, my health, my friends, and my wellbeing are what's important. The only thing I've lost is a job.The full version of this interview appears in the current issue of 'Arena' magazine, on sale today. * He's the Prime Minister's eldest son and heir; her dad was the most colourful Tory minister of his generation. But unlikely though it sounds, Euan Blair owes his current stint as a Washington intern to no less fetching a mentor than Jonathan Aitken's daughter, Victoria, right. In an apparent snub to the British education system, Blair (jnr) is keen to further his academic career by taking a postgraduate degree in politics at an American university.With this in mind, last year he telephoned Aitken - who has lived across the pond in recent years - to seek advice on finding a place at a decent institution. You'll fight this thing.'"And you're still feeling good?Yes, better than ever They haven't won and they'll never win.