By my count, the Downing Street website now has four language options (including English, French, Spanish & Arabic) available to its users. The launch of the Arabic version was picked up a little in the media when it launched a few weeks ago. The French version came next, and the Spanish version was launched last week - a link to it is a major highlight on the website's homepage.

This is a good strategy for Downing Street, as it will provide interesting & useful information not just to Arabic, French & Spanish speakers worldwide (which together with English should allow most people in the world at least to understand), but is also a resource for immigrants in the UK whose English is lacking. Saying that however, the content is mainly contextual and historical, rather than a guide to how to interact with government.

Each language mini-site provides the following translated content:

- PM's biography
- Biographies of Cabinet
- Legislative procedure
- Guide explaining the make-up of the government
- History of No. 10
- Historical biographies of former Prime Ministers

The White House website has long provided Spanish as an option for readers, but that seems more appropriate in a country where a large portion of the population speaks Spanish as a first, or joint first language. The Elysee Palace website also provides translations in English, German & Spanish.

View number10.gov.uk in Arabic | French | Spanish

Labels: Arabic, downing street, French, Gordon Brown, Number 10, Spanish