Crispin Blunt MP, the newly elected Chairman of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, asked at Prime Minister’s Question Time today for assurances that the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) would not undermine the ability of the Foreign Office to deliver the country’s strategic foreign policy objectives.
Citing the last CSR when the FCO’s budget for the BBC World Service was reallocated to the BBC, Crispin Blunt appealed against siloed savings requirements on the FCO, which would reduce foreign policy capacity. This would risk the delivery of the overseas element of the National Security Strategy and the ability to represent the UK abroad.
Crispin said: “Examining the UK’s foreign policy capacity during the challenging years ahead will be a recurring theme for the Foreign Affairs Select Committee over this parliament. The Prime Minister responded about the continuing importance of ‘soft power’ instruments of foreign policy, including the BBC, the British Council, the FCO and the overseas aid budget, to fulfil our moral obligations and project British power and influence.
“However, foreign policy making, capacity and analysis is under immense pressure as the global outlook darkens. I hope the Prime Minister’s understanding of its vital importance will be reflected in the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review. This is crucial to prevent a further foreign policy failure due to a lack of capacity to understand the threats we face and the ability to intelligently direct our response.”