Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Conclusion 14
18th Report - The financial sustainability of the British Council
Published 30 Oct 2026
Public Accounts Committee Financial sustainability of the British Council All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The FCDO told us that during the British Council’s previous 2020 business plan, repeated assurances about the organisation’s return to profitability were ultimately incorrect. This has led to the need for a new governance structure that will allow the FCDO to “interrogate what is actually happening”.34 30 Qq 1, 40; ‘Trapped’ cash is cash that is held overseas by the British Council that is considered to be trapped due to foreign exchange controls. The British Council is unable to utilise these funds outside of the country that they are located in, so is unable to use it to support its wider business. 31 Qq 51, 52 32 Q 55 33 C&AG’s Report, paras 3.11, 3.13 34 Q 38 12
From: Public Accounts Committee, 18th Report - The financial sustainability of the British Council (HC 100), 30 October 2026
Government response
Government response awaited: deadline 30 December 2026.