§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions her Department has had to develop cultural exchanges between the United Kingdom and Argentina; and if she will make a statement. [15857]
§ Mr. MacShaneI have been asked to reply.
Under the Cultural Convention of 1990 with Argentina the British Council is designated as the principal agent of HMG for pursuing bilateral cultural relations. In the last year it has organised arts events mostly through partnerships with local managers, helping major festivals to identify artists from the United Kingdom; it has helped United Kingdom educational providers to exploit opportunities in Argentina, in particular for MBA courses; it has reached out to young audiences through the Buenos Aires Book Fair and book and poster exhibitions and it is developing information services via the internet. It is developing its programme of partnerships between schools in the United Kingdom and Argentina.
The next meeting of the regular Anglo-Argentina Mixed Commission to decide on the next phase of implementation of the Cultural Convention is scheduled for March 2002.