British Council

Baroness Winterton of Doncaster Excerpts

Tuesday 11th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Northover (LD)]

My Lords—

[Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)]

We will hear from the Labour Benches next and then the Lib Dem Benches.

[Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Lab)]

My Lords, as the trade envoy to Bangladesh, I hosted here in Parliament, attended by the noble Baroness, Lady Alexander, the signing of a higher education partnership between the British Council and the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, which will improve not only higher education links but trade links. Will my noble friend the Minister recognise the power of those kinds of partnerships, not only to improve trade but to provide the soft power that she has referred to, when considering the granting of money to the British Council?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

One of the reasons that we have worked hard to protect the British Council’s funding and are committed to the £160 million is because of the amazing work that it does supporting higher education and opportunities for young people—and some older people too. The noble Baroness will be pleased to know that I am travelling to Bangladesh tomorrow, due in no small part to her encouragement. I commend her for the amazing work that she has been doing to develop trade in Bangladesh.