House of Commons · Westminster Hall
16 March 2022 · 5 other contributors · 4,060 words
Opened by John Baron Con Basildon and Billericay
Responding minister: Amanda Milling
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
John Baron raised concerns about future of soft power in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
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.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 MillingIt 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.