HC Deb 14 November 1961 vol 649 cc167-70
6. Mr. Edelman

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation in which foreign and Commonwealth countries he is proposing a reduction in British Council expenditure.

7. Mr. C. Johnson

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether he is yet in a position to state what cuts he is proposing to make in information expenditure overseas.

8. Mr. C. Johnson

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what proposals he has for ensuring a steady long-term development of the overseas information services, and for avoiding sudden and disrupting cuts.

9. Mrs. White

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation if he will now state in which foreign and Commonwealth countries he is proposing to reduce information expenditure.

10. Mrs. White

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether, in deciding the future level of information expenditure by overseas departments, he will make full allowance for unavoidable increases in costs.

11. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation if he is aware of the difficulty of expanding or contracting information work overseas at short notice; and what action he is taking to ensure a steady, long-term development of these services.

12. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether, in deciding the future level of British Council expenditure at home and overseas, he will make full allowance for unavoidable increases in costs.

Mr. Vosper

As I explained on 7th November in reply to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew), it is too early to say exactly how the work of our overseas information services, or the British Council, will be affected by the need to make savings in expenditure overseas. As in previous years, the desirability both of steady development and of providing for increased costs are being fully borne in mind.

Mr. Edelman

Has the Minister's attention been drawn to the very high praise given to the British Council by the Minister of Housing? In those circumstances and in view of the increasing need for British information services overseas to be expanded, is he not making a false economy by cutting down the amount of money available to the Council?

Mr. Vosper

I fully share the views of my right hon. Friend about the value of the British Council. For that reason its budget expanded from £3.4 million in 1957–58 to £6.4 million this year—in other words, it has nearly doubled in just over three years. I do not think that it is impossible to provide for some pruning of the budget of the British Council without in any way destroying the good work it is doing.

Mr. C. Johnson

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that it is too early to make a full statement? Is he not aware that in the meantime there is a good deal of uncertainty and that the present time, which is a time of crisis, is the worst possible time at which to make the cuts which have been envisaged?

Mr. Vosper

I said that it was too early because this subject has been under discussion by the British Council and by the Departments and agreement has not yet been reached. For that reason I do not want to anticipate any statement I may later make.

Mr. B. Harrison

Does my right hon. Friend realise that it is only recently that we have been able to make up the ground which was lost by the cuts of the first Conservative Government since the war? Further, with the increasing number of emerging countries the importance of the work of the British Council is greater than ever.

Mr. Vosper

I fully share those views. As my hon. Friend probably knows, the total expenditure on overseas information services has doubled in the last seven years. It is against that background that the small savings which we are now investigating are to be made.

Mrs. White

Would not the Minister agree that with the present Government it is all the more important that we should have somebody to boost our reputation overseas?

Mr. Mayhew

Will the Minister reply to the specific question I asked him, namely, whether allowance is to be made for the increased costs of the British Council? Is he aware that unless this is done very severe cuts by the Council will have to be made, which will result in a drastic curtailing of its activities?

Mr. Vosper

I am very conscious of that point. In my original Answer, I said that the question of increased costs had been fully borne in mind. I cannot go beyond that today.

Mr. Callaghan

Before the Minister reaches a conclusion, will he consider visiting the Territories, especially those in Africa, and consulting administrators there? He would find not only that any cut would be regarded as irresponsible and absurd but that there is a very strong feeling that, if British influence is to be sustained, a substantial increase in the Vote is needed. Will he please consider this matter with a view to increasing the expenditure and not decreasing it?

Mr. Vosper

I certainly intend to visit as many of these countries as possible. I cannot promise to do so before a decision on this issue is taken. The decision will be taken in conjunction with my colleagues who have visited these countries in recent months.