Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the British Council can continue to operate at its current capacity in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

​The Government is committed to continuing to support the excellent work of the British Council. The FCO has increased the British Council's overall grant over the current Spending Review period. Whilst specific grant funding for its work in the developed world has decreased, it has recently been agreed to provide some additional funding in this period to specifically support the British Council's work in Europe and in the developed world up to 2020. Decisions beyond this date will be taken in the next Spending Review.

The British Council's activity and presence in Europe is primarily a matter for its management team and its Trustees. The British Council would have to seek the agreement of the Foreign Secretary before any closures of offices. Before any decisions are made, the British Council would also undertake an extensive consultation process with partners, stakeholders and the Devolved Administrations.