Written Evidence Feb. 28 2024
Inquiry: The UK Government’s engagement regarding the British Indian Ocean TerritoryFound: CHA0032 - The UK Government’s engagement regarding the British Indian Ocean Territory Council on Geostrategy
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost to the public purse was of supporting the (a) Youth Parliament, (b) Youth Select Committee and (c) Make Your Mark Programme since their inception.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I was sorry to learn about the closure of the British Youth Council and want to express gratitude for its work over the years. Government is committed to the delivery of the UK Youth Parliament and intends to use funding allocated to BYC in 2024/25 to support the programme. We are working alongside previous UKYP delivery partners from English regions and the devolved administrations, to understand the implications of BYCs closure for programme delivery. We have been working at pace to identify a suitable organisation which can hold overall grant management responsibility for the UKYP 24/25 and I will update the house as soon as next steps have been formalised. In parallel, we will be leading engagement with young people and key stakeholders to plan for the longer-term future of the UKYP.
An evaluation of the impact of the Youth Parliament was conducted between October 2022 and March 2023 and found that all stakeholders, participants, delivery staff and policy officials, agreed that the programmes were important vehicles to engage young people in the UK political processes and support youth-informed policy development. A new evaluation of the UK Youth Parliament programme was started in 23/24 and is due to conclude in 24/25.
Since 2017, Government has provided a total amount of c.£2.4m to the British Youth Council to deliver youth voice activities including the UK Youth Parliament, Youth Select Committees and Make Your Mark.
Apr. 11 2024
Source Page: We urge the Russian authorities to release British national Vladimir Kara-Murza on humanitarian grounds immediately: UK statement at the UN Security CouncilFound: We urge the Russian authorities to release British national Vladimir Kara-Murza on humanitarian grounds
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many British Hallmarking Council staff have left that organisation in each year since 2015.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We centrally hold some of the information requested.
In as far as data is centrally held, I refer the hon. Member to the Civil Service statistics, for the Department for Business and Trade, at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-service-statistics
The Declaration on Government Reform (2021) stated: "There is however more we must do to attract a broader range of people to the privilege of public service... It should be natural for people with careers and skills built in business to serve in government for a period, and for those in public service to spend time in organisations which are not dependent on public money... We will develop new entry routes from industry, academia, the third sector and the wider public sector, with flexibility to suit those who want to build a career in government and those who want a shorter tour of duty."
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what were the objectives of the funding provided by the British Council to the DRAGOSLAVIA festival in June 2022.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Following an open call for participants for the British Council's Creative Producers programme, and subsequent competitive grant allocation process, Dragoslavia festival was awarded £10,700 by the British Council.
The FCDO strongly supports the British Council's promotion of UK values overseas, including support for LGBT+ rights, through its work in education, the English language, as well as through Arts and Culture
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding was provided by the British Council to the DRAGOSLAVIA festival in June 2022.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Following an open call for participants for the British Council's Creative Producers programme, and subsequent competitive grant allocation process, Dragoslavia festival was awarded £10,700 by the British Council.
The FCDO strongly supports the British Council's promotion of UK values overseas, including support for LGBT+ rights, through its work in education, the English language, as well as through Arts and Culture
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the priority objectives are for the British Council in the Balkans.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Council's priority objectives for the Western Balkans are to build the skills and capacity of individuals and organisations operating in the media and cultural sectors, to support region-wide digital transformation, and enhance and support English language teaching and learning.
The Creative Producers programme was designed to develop the profession of creative production and artistic good practices across the countries involved and the UK.
The British Council determines its own funding programmes operating at arms' length to Government.
Sep. 05 2023
Source Page: Foreign Secretary welcomes next British Council ChairFound: Foreign Secretary welcomes next British Council Chair
Oral Evidence Mar. 18 2024
Inquiry: The UK and the Antarctic EnvironmentFound: British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and Natural Environment Research