Oral Answers to Questions

James Morris Excerpts

Tuesday 26th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Peter Heaton-Jones (North Devon) (Con)]

2. What steps he is taking to enhance UK soft power overseas.

[James Morris (Halesowen and Rowley Regis) (Con)]

16. What steps he is taking to enhance UK soft power overseas.

[Sir Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con)]

23. What steps he is taking to enhance UK soft power overseas.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mark Field]

I am delighted to join my hon. Friend in recognising the excellent work of the BBC World Service, which brings the UK and its values to the world at large. Since 2016, Her Majesty’s Government have been funding the World 2020 programme, which has seen the World Service undergo its biggest single expansion in the past 70 years, with 12 new language services opened in 2017-18, and I have been very proud to watch some of that excellent work in India.

[James Morris]

The plays of Shakespeare have been translated into many languages and performed in many countries around the world, including China, so does the Minister agree that Britain has amazing cultural and linguistic assets that we can use to project our soft power around the world and to support democratic values, freedom of speech and creativity, as we build a new relationship with the world?

[Mark Field]

I do indeed agree with my hon. Friend. For example, in 2016, the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death was marked by an HMG-funded cultural programme called Shakespeare Lives, which was jointly delivered by the British Council, the GREAT campaign and the FCO, involving the BBC and the Royal Shakespeare Company.