§ 53. Captain Waterhouseasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the sums included in the estimates for the current year on account of the British Council's expenditure in 1645 Hungary and Czechoslovakia, respectively; and the number of people who have been employed in each.
§ Mr. YoungerThe sums included in the estimates for the current year on account of the British Council's expenditure are in Hungary £31,802, and in Czechoslovakia £44,541. The number of British persons employed in Hungary by the British Council was six and in Cechoslovakia 15. Before giving the answer I should have mentioned that I understand that the reference to Bulgaria in the Question should have been a reference to Hungary. In fact, the British Council do not operate in Bulgaria.
§ Captain WaterhouseI apologise for the mistake which occurred in the original Question, and which I later altered at the Table. May I ask if expenditure and personnel of the British Council will be cut down proportionately to this reduction? Further, will the hon. Gentleman examine the whole of the British Council's affairs, because there is a general feeling throughout the country that this vast expenditure——
§ Mr. SpeakerWe are dealing with Czechoslovakia, not with the whole of the British Council.
§ Captain WaterhouseMay I have an assurance in regard to the first part of my supplementary question?
§ Mr. YoungerThe local expenditure in those countries will be saved, but I cannot give any undertaking about any other expenditure which might arise, for instance, regarding continued employment on other work of people previously doing this work.
§ Captain WaterhouseCan we be assured that if 10 people are to be saved not necessarily the same people but some people, at some time, will be discharged?
§ Mr. YoungerThat does not follow at all.