Lords to debate Soft Power report

The Committee's report Persuasion and Power in the Modern World called for new approaches in the exercise of the UK's power and influence in an increasingly dangerous world and a shifting global landscape.

The report said that all departments had a role to play in shaping Britain's international stance. The report urged the Government to ensure UK embassy resourcing was strengthened, make better use of the Commonwealth network to open the door to fast-growing developing markets, and ensure that key soft power resources, such as the British Council and the BBC World Service, are properly resourced.

Since the report's publication, events in Eastern Europe and the Middle East have shown the importance of the UK ensuring it has the most developed tools possible for negotiating international relations and getting its case across in an unstable world.

The debate will be held in the Chamber of the House of Lords on Tuesday 10 March. It is expected to start around 3pm.

Commenting ahead of the debate Lord Howell of Guildford, who chaired the Committee and will open the debate, said:

“Recent events in Eastern Europe, and the rise of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, show that we cannot assume the world is on a smooth journey towards democracy or liberal values. Countries such as Russia and China continue to invest in how their image is projected internationally and trying to persuade others of their case. The Islamic State are sophisticated in using and abusing social media to disseminate footage of their atrocities and recruit followers. The UK in particular must ensure we do not lose focus on the importance of persuasion, telling our story and using the cultural capital we have built over decades to project ourselves internationally. 

“These crises make clear the importance of using our ‘soft power' assets not as an alternative to necessary harder military methods, but as mutually reinforcing. Force and the narrative go together. In addition, to protect and promote UK interests necessitates new methods in spreading our influence and projecting a positive image of the UK overseas in radically changed global conditions. For example, we must ensure that our embassies are properly resourced, that we build on our international connections such as the Commonwealth network and that policies in areas like student visas do not undermine our reputation internationally.

“Although it has been nearly a year since the Committee's report its message has become in that time even more relevant and central to Britain's prime concerns, its security and its prosperity. Tuesday's debate gives us a chance to urge further progress, both across the departments and agencies of government and non-governmentally, in developing new initiatives and responding to the challenges now presented by fast-changing world conditions.”

Peers down to speak in the debate include:

• Lord Howell of Guildford, who chaired the Committee and will open the debate
• Lord Bilimoria, who serves on the Prime Minister of India's Global Advisory Council and was Vice Chairman of the Asian Business Association
• Lord Birt former Director General of the BBC.
• Baroness Coussins, who sits on the Lords EU Sub-Committee on External Affairs which recently published a high-profile report on the EU and Russia
• Lord Hannay of Chiswick, formerly the UK's permanent representative to both the European Economic Community and the United Nations
• Lord Jay of Ewelme, former Head of the Diplomatic Service
• Lord Judd, former Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister
• The Marquess of Lothian former Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
• Lord Luce former Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and President of the Royal Over-Seas League
• Lord Marland who served on the Royal Academy of Arts Development Committee as well as Parliamentary Under-Secretary in both BIS and DECC.
• Baroness Prashar former Chief Executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Chair of the Lords EU Sub-Committee in Home Affairs, Health and Education.
• Baroness Smith of Newnham Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Cambridge. 
• Lord Soley who chaired the House of Lords Committee in Intergovernmental Organisations
• Lord Stirrup, former Chief of the Defence Staff
• Baroness Wolf of Dulwich, professor of Public Sector Management at King's College London. (Maiden Speech)

The session will be webcast at www.parliamentlive.tv and is also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.