B

Baroness Alexander of Cleveden (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 9 June 2026

Debate

British Council

Contribution

My Lords, I declare my interest as deputy chair of the British Council. On current plans, it is likely that this Covid-era loan will be paid down for the next 15 years plus. Can my noble friend the Minister say why the Government have not accepted the British Council’s offer of using its art collection in lieu of the loan, given that HMRC regularly accepts artwork from private estates in settlement of tax liabilities? Why can a comparable arrangement not be found for the Government’s own soft-power agency? I am aware of the complexities of the matter, so I invite my noble friend the Minister to write to me on the specific issue of the art collection paying down the loan and to place a copy in the Library for other noble Lords.

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