In confidence

Financial forecast for South Asia

All figures in £ million

Income

ODA agency

FCO agency

Other agency

Revenue

Government grants

1990/91

1991/92

1992/93

1993/94

31

32

33

35

2

2

2

2

15

52

2242

2

2

2

8

9

9

10

9

8

54

55

56

Total

Expenditure

Staff and running costs

South Asia

5

Staff and running costs UK

10

10

British Council programmes

3

co 5 cr

5

3

1 a m

5

9

10 9

5

3

3

Agency (rounded)

Total

34

36

38

39

52

54

55

56

Table 6

7.

p

7 234 AA

20

-

7.49 Project management on behalf of ODA in India is expected to continue to grow and the value of FCO scholarships will have reached £1 million by 1991. The ODA/Council relationship is seen at its best in India where the Council currently manages over fifty projects for ODA, including two in excess of £25 million each. The areas of project activity are wide-ranging and include, at ODA's request, the non-education sector health and community development and renewable natural resources, for example — as well as science and technology and distance education. The Council's network of thirteen libraries throughout India provide the main public face of Britain. There are plans to upgrade them within the planning period, in order to maintain the quality of targeted services to senior managers and professionals. Additional funds will be sought for this purpose and to enhance cultural programmes. With recent Indian agreement to allow sponsorship of large events, conditions now favour significantly raising Britain's cultural profile. Contingency plans for a balanced budget would include the withdrawal of £0.12 million of government grant funds from India early in the triennium; such steps would be taken reluctantly as the achievement of cultural objectives would inevitably be damaged.

7.50 The Council's priority in Pakistan is efficient project management for ODA; plans also include more active marketing of British education and, in the longer term, the possibility of ODA-supported ELT. Activity, largely aid- funded, is expected to hold steady in

Bangladesh. The Council's English language programmes continue to be essential to effective political, commercial and developmental co- operation. With, additionally, three libraries and collaborative programmes of visits, links and training with local institutions, Council activity will continue its contribution to maintaining Britain's position as a key provider of development training and language instruction.

7.51 Although the Council has improved library stocks and services to meet heightened demand, political instability remains a deterrent to the development of activity in Burma. Should contin- gency financial plans have to be implemented, some budget reductions would need to be made. Council operations in Nepal and Sri Lanka will continue to focus on aid administration, particu- larly in the latter where the Council expects to be involved in TC programmes in training and Eng- lish language and in educational reconstruction.

Principal effectiveness measures for South Asia

• total project management turnover and income

• number of recorded expressions of satisfaction by ODA and FCO with services

• % increase of library members from priority groups in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan

• value of ILA contracts won.

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