HL Deb 13 January 1976 vol 367 cc6-7

2.47 p.m.

Baroness SHARPLES

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the value to the United Kingdom of export business generated by the British Council's tendering and consultancy work in the Middle East in 1975.

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, the value of the projects for which the Council has signed contracts in 1975 was £1,930,000. In some cases the Council has provided advice on the educational design aspects of projects. Most of these are still in the tendering stage and the value of export business they are likely to generate cannot yet be stated.

Baroness SHARPLES

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Could he please tell me what the cost has been to public funds of commercial and consulting activities by the British Council in this area?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, my understanding is that the answer to that question is, none. These activities arc carried out on a commercial basis.

Lord SEGAL

My Lords, can my noble friend give a breakdown of this £1,930,000 according to the different countries involved, and can he say whether Israel is also included?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, Israel is not included. The breakdown is: £900,000 to one university in Saudi Arabia, £850,000 to another university in Saudi Arabia, £180,000 to Iran. The £180,000 is a per annum figure for an indeterminate number of years. The first figure I gave is up to 31st August 1976, and the second up to 31st August 1977.

Baroness SHARPLES

My Lords, may I ask the Minister what early warning system there is for the British Council to notify British industry of opportunities to tender for them in the Middle East?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, my understanding is that the British Council has made every effort to collaborate wherever possible with private firms; and, of course, all the business generated by the British Council is of enormous benefit to this country and enormous assistance to our export drive. The noble Baroness may know that one trade association, ICETT, is currently in discussion with the British Council in an effort to see whether there is any scope for improvement in the present arrangements.