HC Deb 26 January 1988 vol 126 cc157-8W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking in order to consolidate and expand the work of United Kingdom cultural diplomacy.

Mr. Eggar

The needs of cultural diplomacy, like all aspects of diplomacy, are subject to continuous review. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council are working closely together to agree the range of global priorities and objectives and the most efficient means of achieving these. The importance that we attach to cultural diplomacy was made clear in our reply to the Foreign Affairs Committee's report, and was reaffirmed by my noble Friend the Minister of State in another place on 20 January.