§ Mr. Ripponasked the Lord Privy Seal what were the total payments out of public funds in support of Anglo-Soviet cultural, educational and other activities designed to promote exchanges and good relations in 1979–80; what is his estimate for the current financial year; and how much of these payments are made to private organisations.
§ Mr. HurdIt is difficult to give precise figures. Direct expenditure through the British Council on educational and cultural relations with the USSR in 1979–80 was £220,148. In addition, £64,552 was made available to non-governmental organisations for scientific and youth exchanges, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office paid £19,528 to non-governmental organisations for Anglo-Soviet activities to further our objectives under the terms of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe. There may well be other Government funding which cannot readily be identified. Expenditure for 1980–81 is estimated to be lower in real terms but to follow approximately the same pattern.