Modern foreign language learning should remain compulsory for all pupils until the age of 16, peers urged.

The cross-party Lords European select committee said language lessons should be introduced to pupils at the age of eight.

The committee's suggestions come as the government's Green Paper on secondary education - published last month - revealed plans to give pupils the option to drop languages at 14.

At the same time, the government said it would introduce language learning in primary schools for every child from the age of seven by 2010 - a move apparently designed to quell concerns from critics.

But peers said this measure was not good enough and stressed the government had not stipulated how much time would be set aside for language learning in primary schools.

"If the UK Government, in accordance with the conclusions of the Lisbon European Council of spring 2000, consider the ability to speak a foreign language both to be a 'basic skill' and to be important for geographical mobility, then increased provision must be made for the teaching of foreign languages in primary and secondary schools," the committee said.

The peers also recommended a move towards mutual recognition of qualifications across the European Union so that it would be easier for individuals to get jobs in other European countries.

Improvement

A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said the department recognised the UK had a poor record on modern foreign languages and was committed to improving the situation, notably by introducing languages earlier.

"We have also set up the Languages National Steering Group, chaired by Baroness Ashton to develop a new strategy," the spokeswoman said.

"At secondary school we are proposing making education more flexible - that may mean that languages are no longer compulsory but all pupils will still have a right to learn them if they choose.

"Our strategy aims to inspire and build language skills at a young age, encouraging pupils to go on to further learning rather than forcing older pupils into lessons and putting them off further learning in later life," she said.