Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

British Council and the Integrated Review

04 March 2021 · 1 other contributor

Opened by John Baron Con Basildon and Billericay

Foreign AffairsCulture, Media & Sport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

John Baron raised concerns about british council and the integrated review in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • The British Council promotes British culture and language abroad, facilitating cultural exchanges since the 1930s.
  • The UK Government provided emergency funding and loans to the British Council during the pandemic, totalling up to 171 million.
  • The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will fund the British Council with 189 million grant-in-aid for 2021-22, including 150 million as official development assistance.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

John Baron Con Basildon and Billericay

The UK is often termed a soft power superpower, with research showing the UK as the most attractive country in the G20. The British Council since the 1930s has been promoting British culture, English language abroad, facilitating cultural exchanges and building trust between the UK and other countries. Despite recent budget increases for defence, proper financial support for soft power assets like the British Council is vital. The Minister of Defence agrees that understanding each other's issues can avoid conflicts. The all-party group recommended a soft power strategy at the heart of the integrated review, providing parity with hard power assets. Recent years have seen the British Council relying more on its commercial activities due to reduced state funding compared to similar organisations in France, Germany and Japan. The coronavirus pandemic has been hard for the council, but discussions are ongoing. I urge the Government to think strategically about our soft power and take the long view rather than short-term decisions.

Other contributors (1)
  • Nigel Adams Con Sherwood

    The British Council is a crucial part of the UK’s presence overseas, promoting UK education, arts and culture through building long-lasting connections between people. It fosters connections between higher education institutions and students in the UK and other countries.

Government Response

Eleanor Laing

The British Council is a key soft power asset, promoting UK influence overseas through long-lasting connections. The Government provided £26 million of emergency funding and up to £145 million in loans during the pandemic, ensuring it can continue operating. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will provide £189 million grant-in-aid funding for 2021-22, including £150 million as official development assistance. Despite operational challenges from the pandemic, the British Council has adapted to digital delivery, demonstrating resilience. The FCDO will continue supporting it as a valuable soft power institution.

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