Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to his Foreword to the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, First Annual Report 2016, Cm 9161, what definition the Government uses of soft power; and how the Government quantifies the statement that the UK has some of the strongest and most effective soft power in the world.

A commonly accepted definition of soft power, based on the work of Joseph Nye, is 'the ability to affect others through influencing, persuading, and eliciting positive attraction, in order to achieve outcomes'. The UK's soft power stems from a wide range of resources, many of which are completely independent of government. This includes the UK's values, the English language, our cultural heritage and assets, and our world class education system, all of which attract tourists, students and business investment. In addition, the Government has chosen to invest in organisations such as the British Council and the BBC World Service, which build understanding between countries and promote the exchange of information and ideas.

The UK is recognised as a leader in soft power by a range of external organisations. The UK has ranked in the top three in four different soft power rankings since 2012, most recently ranking second in the 2016 Portland Soft Power index.