§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on changes to the budget for the British Council between 1997 and 2001. [9971]
§ Mr. MacShaneIn 1997–98 the British Council received grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of £96 million and £30 million from DFID. Subsequently the DFID grant-in-aid was transferred to the FCO, which provided some £127 million in 1998–99, £133 million in 1999–2000 and £137 million in 2000–01. Under the current Spending Review settlement the British Council is receiving £143 million in 2001–02, £151 million in 2002–03 and £159 million in 2003–04.