§ Mr. Longdenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the staff and premises of the British Council 16W in the Arab countries in North Africa and the Middle East are safe; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI am glad to say that our reports so far show that all British Council staff are safe. There has, however, been some damage to British Council property.
In Algiers windows and doors were broken, the Library was extensively damaged and two cars were smashed.
In Libya, the British Council reading rooms at Benghazi and Tripoli have been damaged.
In Tunis, when the Chancery building was attacked, a British Council car was wrecked.
In Baghdad the British Council Centre of English Studies was stoned; and a Council car was damaged. The Centre has been evacuated and a police guard installed there.
Our representatives in these countries are making the strongest possible protests about this damage.