HC Deb 29 July 1997 vol 299 cc156-7W
Mr. Spring

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the real terms change in the Government grant in aid to the British Council between 1979 and 1997. [11260]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The real terms change in this Department's grant in aid to the British Council between 1978–79 and 1997–98 was an increase of 21 per cent. This does not take into account the grant in aid received by the British Council from the Department for International Development—formerly the Overseas Development Administration—during this period.