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Eastern Europe

Volume 178: debated on Monday 29 October 1990

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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extra resources have been available to the British Council in respect of English language teaching in eastern Europe.

[holding answer 26 October 1990]: British Council expenditure on the promotion and development of the teaching of English in central and eastern Europe and the Soviet Union rose to some £2·5 million last year and is scheduled to rise to £5 million this year, the money coming in part from increases in the council's direct grant and in part from the know-how fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extra resources have been made available to the British Broadcasting Corporation foreign language services in light of the developments in eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 26 October 1990]: We recognise the value of World Service broadcasts to eastern Europe and are in regular touch with the BBC about the resources needed. Funding for the BBC World Service is set for periods of three years. In 1990–91, the final year of the present triennium, funding is 40 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1979–80 and 13 per cent. higher than in 1987–88. Funding for the next such period, beginning in April 1991 falls within the 1990 public expenditure survey and will be announced following the autumn statement.