HC Deb 22 February 2000 vol 344 cc941-2W
Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extra Government grant will be allocated to the British Council for the opening of planned new country directorates in(a) Libya and (b) Iran. [111261]

Mr. Hain

The British Council is funded through grant-in-aid, voted by Parliament, for its activities world-wide rather than through specific grants for individual countries. The Council makes decisions about resource allocation for its activities in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy to give the same percentage increase or decrease in Government grant to the British Council at the annual spending review as his Department receives in the review; and if he will make a statement. [111244]

Mr. Hain

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for South-West Devon (Mr. Streeter) on 9 February 2000,Official Report, column 181W.

Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extra grant was allocated by his Department to the British Council for opening the new country directorates in(a) Bolivia and (b) Cuba. [111262]

Mr. Hain

The British Council is provided with grant-in-aid funding for its activities world-wide. This Government provided the Council with an increase in its grant-in-aid at the first opportunity, ie in the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement covering 1999–2000 to 2001–02. The Council makes decisions on the allocation of resources for its activities, in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.