Letter to the Chair of the Committee from
Martin Davidson, Chief Executive, British Council
The spending review settlement announced today will
secure the British Council's global network and our cultural relations
impact throughout the spending review period.
The outcome of the spending review has confirmed
the value of the British Council's cultural relations work as
a major contributor to the UK's international relations. Throughout
the spending review we have been clear that we would play our
part in helping to reduce the UK's public spending deficit. I
believe that today's announcement that our grant will reduce from
£180.9 million to £149 million by 2014 is a reasonable
settlement. This ring fenced funding represents a cut of 17%,
which (with inflation) amounts to a real cut in the region of
25%. Our core grant funding is assured for the next four years.
The FCO has informed us that our grant is as follows:
Financial year |
Grant funding |
2010-11 baseline | £180.9
|
2011-12 | £173m |
2012-13 | £165m |
2013-14 | £157m |
2014-15 | £149m |
In addition, the Foreign Secretary has made it clear that we will
remain a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the FCO.
We will have to make some difficult choices as we decide on our
plans for the next four years but we intend to build a robust
future for the British Council using the best of the UK's cultural
and educational resources to build opportunity and trust for the
UK worldwide. Out of this will come ambitious plans to focus on
our work in English, the arts and education, including developing
and growing alternative sources of income.
I am confident that our work in the emerging markets, such as
India and China, and in countries where the UK is less trusted,
will continue to strengthen the prosperity and security of the
UK and the countries where we work.
20 October 2010
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