BRITISH COUNCIL MANCHESTER BRANCH

That this House expresses grave concern at Her Majesty's Government's planned reduction in the British Council's grant amounting to ú22 million over the next three years; recognises the disastrous impact on the role of the British Council as the country's principal agency for cultural relations abroad; expresses utter dismay at the callous treatment to British Council employees in Manchester where they face 200 job losses and a further 300 jobs being relocated outside the city; understands that this situation arises only four years after the British Council moved 600 employees to its new site in Manchester; notes the distress caused to these families who now find themselves abandoned, without a job and with an insecure future; is appalled at Her Majesty's Government apparent lack of interest in their plight; and urges a reconsideration of these cuts which this House considers unreasonable and irrational.