Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

British Council

08 September 2021 · 5 other contributors · 4,282 words

Opened by Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife

Responding minister: Nigel Adams

Culture, Media & Sport

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Wendy Chamberlain raised concerns about british council in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The British Council is facing 80 million in ODA grant cuts despite its importance as a cultural institution.
  • Teaching revenues are down to about 50% of pre-pandemic levels, resulting in hundreds of millions of pounds in losses.
  • The Minister acknowledges the British Council's crucial role but does not commit to specific budgetary actions or ring-fencing funding.

Key requests to Government

The Minister is urged to address the contradiction between paying lip service to the British Council's importance and undermining it through funding cuts. Wendy Chamberlain asks for reassurance that he will fight to maintain his Department's budget, and considers ring-fencing the current level of grant funding the British Council receives.

How the debate unfolded

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

Opened the debate

Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife

The British Council is facing significant funding cuts despite its historical and current importance as a cultural institution. The Government's refusal to provide financial support exacerbates the issue, leading to office closures and staffing reductions globally. Teaching revenues are back to only about 50% of pre-pandemic levels, representing a loss of hundreds of millions of pounds over the year. Cuts amount to £80 million in ODA grant funds despite an additional non-official development assistance grant of £26 million being provided.

Other contributors (5)
  • Alex Sobel Lab Co-op Leeds Central and Headingley

    The hon. Member thanked the proposer for the debate, highlighting his role in chairing all-party parliamentary groups focusing on Balkan countries experiencing British Council closures. He emphasised the vital bilateral exchange between Britain and these nations and warned that moving offices could harm development work.

  • Chris Stephens SNP Glasgow South West

    The Member acknowledged a recent online meeting with Public and Commercial Services Union members, expressing concern over the secrecy of the British Council's restructuring plans and calling for more transparency and parliamentary scrutiny. Asked about the conditions of the £600 million loans and inquired whether the Department is reviewing how the British Council is managing its restructuring.

  • Grahame Morris Lab Easington

    Criticisms of the Government's British Council closures come not only from the Opposition but also across Parliament. Grahame Morris highlights that cuts to ODA spending are hated across the country and within his party, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong presence around the world through soft power.

  • Kirsten Oswald

    The hon. Member reported constituents' concerns about unclear evacuation plans for British Council staff in Afghanistan, noting her own unsuccessful attempts to gain clarity from relevant departments. She criticised the lack of support for employees under the Afghan relocation policy and urged the Government to reconsider their approach.

  • Layla Moran Lib Dem Oxford West and Abingdon

    The hon. Member congratulated the debate's proposer for raising the issue of discrepancies between the Government's actions and their claims, particularly regarding funding cuts to the British Council despite promises to maintain foreign aid at 0.7%.

Government Response

Nigel Adams

I thank the hon. Member for North East Fife (Wendy Chamberlain) for securing this important debate on the British Council's global presence and acknowledge the crucial role it plays in promoting English-language education, arts and culture across the globe. The council reached 983 million people in 2019-20 but faced significant challenges during the pandemic, with over 90% of its teaching and exam centres forced to close at the peak. Despite these unprecedented economic circumstances, we have allocated over £600 million to the British Council since the pandemic hit, including a 27% increase in the spending review settlement to £189 million in 2021-22. We also provided up to £245 million of loan support, which includes a £100 million loan for restructuring efforts and rebuilding commercial surpluses. The minister emphasised that while difficult decisions were made regarding the council's global presence, it is essential for the British Council to adapt to a changing world by focusing on its core mission and enhancing its governance structure. New key performance indicators and targets have been agreed upon with updated charitable objectives, and Scott McDonald has recently taken up his role as chief executive alongside chairman Stevie Spring.

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