Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the announcement of closures to the British Council's international network, The British Council's future: a message from Kate Ewart-Biggs, Interim CEO on 24 June 2021, whether he plans for there be further closures.

The Integrated Review reiterated our commitment to the British Council and it's valuable contribution to projecting UK soft power. We have underscored this commitment with the additional financial support we have allocated to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the Council - over £600 million since March 2020. This includes a 2021/22 grant in aid allocation of £189 million - a 27% increase on funding for 2020/21.

The British Council is further adapting to the digital age, with digital services already having expanded rapidly during the pandemic. The British Council will continue to operate in over 100 countries promoting the English language, UK arts and culture and education. We are not planning further closures. Decisions on future funding will be made as part of the upcoming Spending Review.