§ Mr. TrendTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 555W 15 December 2000, Official Report, column 298W, on Belarus, what criteria the British Council uses to assess the importance of countries to the UK. [143838]
§ Mr. HainThe British Council's geographical priorities are based on an assessment of a country's importance to the United Kingdom—in political, commercial and historical terms—and of the Council's ability to achieve long-term influence and impact for the United Kingdom. The criteria for assessing the Council's ability to achieve impact include the need to change perceptions of the United Kingdom, the demand for Council services and receptivity to Council programmes, the accessibility of the Council's target audiences and the availability of other mechanisms for influencing perceptions of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Windsor (Mr. Trend) of 15 December 2000,Official Report, column 298W, on Belarus, when his Department was informed of the British Council's decision; and what consultation took place with his Department as part of the British Council's strategic review. [143709]
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 8 January 2001]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office was fully consulted in the course of the strategic review which led to the decisions taken by the British Council's Board, in October 2000, to make changes to its overseas network.