HC Deb 17 May 2000 vol 350 cc157-9W
Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the reduction has been in the number of London-appointed British Council staff serving overseas since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the impact of these reductions on the work of the British Council. [121823]

Mr. Hain

The number of London-appointed British Council staff serving overseas has been reduced by 6 per cent. since 1997–98. This reduction has been partly offset by the appointment of skilled local managers in the Council's local offices.

Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to increase the programme funds available to British Council offices in developing countries. [121822]

Mr. Hain

The British Council performs a valuable role and should be properly funded. It is already able to bid against a range of FCO programme funds; for example, it manages some 50 per cent. of Human Rights Projects Fund activities. Its freedom to bid for access to these funds will continue.

Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on changing in the funding of the British Council when it is required to operate in additional countries. [121828]

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. We expect the Council to reshape its representation around the world as required, including opening new offices, within the resources it has from the FCO and other Government Departments, the private sector and paid for services. Technology now allows the Council also to reach target audiences in a different way.

Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the(a) percentage reduction in the value of the British Council's DFID-funded contract work since 1996–97 and (b) impact of this reduction on the British Council's work in developing countries. [121821]

Mr. Hain

The value of the British Council's DFID-funded contract work has been reduced by 55 per cent. since 1996–97. The resulting drop in income has led to extensive restructuring in overseas directorates in developing countries and a reduction of staff in the UK and abroad. Council operations in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa have been most affected.

Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will restore the British Council's grant in aid to its real terms level before 1995–96. [121827]

Mr. Hain

The FCO and the British Council experienced cuts in funding in the period from 1995–96 until this Government had the opportunity, in the last comprehensive spending round, to arrest the decline. It is unrealistic to expect that the FCO and the British Council will receive increases that will recoup these cuts quickly. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is pressing for a much-needed increase in FCO resources across the board. I expect the Council to achieve an increase in its grant in aid broadly in line with the settlement for the FCO as a whole as it performs a valuable role and I always try to visit its offices abroad while on ministerial visits to demonstrate my support.

Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the percentage reduction in the number of UK-based staff at the British Council since 1996–97; and if he will make a statement on the impact of the reduction on the Council's work. [121820]

Mr. Hain

The number of UK-based staff at the British Council has been reduced by 23 per cent. since 1996–97. These cuts have resulted in a reduction in the range of services offered to international students in the UK and in the size of the Council's network of regional offices in the UK. Reductions in the number of subject advisers and geographical managers in the Council's London and Manchester offices, and in personnel and finance officers, have affected the support provided to overseas operations.

Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the percentage reduction in corporate overheads at the British Council since 1995–96. [121826]

Mr. Hain

Corporate overheads at the British Council have been reduced by 23 per cent. since 1995–96.

Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the British Council country directorates which have no full-time London-appointed staff. [121824]

Mr. Hain

The following 16 British Council country directorates have no full-time London-appointed staff: Albania, Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Brunei, Caribbean, Denmark, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Norway, Swaziland and Switzerland.