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Future of Soft Power
16 March 2022
Lead MP
John Baron
Basildon and Billericay
Con
Responding Minister
Amanda Milling
Tags
UkraineCulture, Media & Sport
Word Count: 4060
Other Contributors: 5
At a Glance
John Baron raised concerns about future of soft power in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government should ensure there are no further cuts or closures proposed to the British Council's funding and confirm when full allocation for the spending review period will be given. The figure of a 26% funding increase is misleading as it does not compare like-for-like years, hiding behind percentage increases.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The west has relaxed its guard following the cold war and failed to invest in nurturing democracy, as shown by recent UN votes on Ukraine. The BBC World Service saw a significant increase in listeners during the invasion of Ukraine, yet funding debates persist for it and other organizations like the British Council. During the pandemic year, the British Council had to close 20 country operations due to £10 million shortfall in fully compensating for commercial revenue losses.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
President Roosevelt's advice to 'talk softly but carry a big stick' is relevant. Soft power requires hard power backing, as they complement each other for effectiveness.
Karen Bradley
Con
Staffordshire Moorlands
Congratulations to the hon. Member for securing this debate and highlighting the importance of soft power assets like the British Council, which require continuous investment for effective operation. She suggested that the Treasury should find a way to assess the value of institutions like the British Council beyond just financial metrics, highlighting its importance in providing education access and fostering democratic values abroad.
The British Council's work in promoting British education and generating revenue through its programmes should be recognised. It plays a vital role in fostering international alliances. He emphasised the non-monetary value provided by the British Council, including promoting democracy and education, supporting trade relations, and maintaining cultural ties with other countries. He also highlighted the impact of budget cuts during the COVID period.
Andrew Selous
Con
Waveney
Agreed that democracy needs defending and the UK should commit sufficient resources to reinforce soft diplomacy. Praised the BBC World Service and British Council for their global reach, while highlighting the need for adequate funding.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Emphasized the importance of the British Council's work in reaching people globally and agreed that other cultural institutes receive higher public funding compared to the British Council.
Government Response
Amanda Milling
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Rees. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon and Billericay on securing the debate, which I am pleased to respond to, and I thank him for all his work as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on the British Council. The UK's soft power is rooted in our democratic values and way of life, widely recognised by other countries who appreciate our values and wish to work with us. The Government allocates over £560 million to the British Council since the start of the pandemic, including £180 million in grant and aid funding for 2021-22, an increase of £40 million from last year. Additionally, the non-official development assistance allocation was £39 million, triple its 2020-21 baseline. The British Council's non-official development assistance allocation was also increased to support its operations during challenging times and ambitious growth targets were set for future years. Beyond the British Council, the BBC World Service is another organisation that is important in promoting our values, reaching an audience of over 364 million people every week with high-quality impartial news delivered in 42 different languages.
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Assessment & feedback
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.