Compulsory redundancies and privatisation at the British Council

That this House is concerned that the vital role of the British Council in promoting Cultural Relations and education, arts, and English language training across the globe will be undermined by the current programme of closures, cuts and outsourcing being undertaken as a result of financial pressures; notes that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the sponsoring department of the British Council, refused to provide a grant to cover a reduction in revenues during the covid-19 pandemic and instead offered a commercial loan with stringent repayment conditions; regrets that the plans involve compulsory redundancies of hundreds of highly experienced and dedicated staff; supports members of the Public and Commercial Services Union who are taking a further three days of industrial action in June in protest at these plans; and calls on British Council management and the FCDO to release the terms of the agreement and renegotiate the conditions and timeframe for repayment, in order to avoid any compulsory redundancies, any further privatisation and allow more time for business recovery.