§ 5. Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Lord Privy Seal how many representations he has received about cuts in the external services of the British Broadcasting Corporation; and what assessment has been made of the effect of their withdrawal upon British interests.
§ Mr. RidleyThere are to be no cuts in the finances of the BBC external services.
By yesterday my right hon. Friends and I had received 246 representations. Most of them misunderstood the position. Our assessment of the effect of our policies is that the external services will become much more audible in most parts of the world.
§ Mr. FauldsOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I gather that the phrase is a terminological inexactitude. Did the Minister's reply relate to the fact that there are going to be cuts in the BBC's external services?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman is going a bit far.
§ Sir John Biggs-DavisonTaking national broadcasting as a whole, and the additional resources to be given to local radio, for example, cannot means be found to 306 maintain all useful services without throwing a burden on the public purse? Can we not do much better in presenting the truth about Northern Ireland in Europe as well as in North America?
§ Mr. RidleyI think that my hon. Friend has made a useful suggestion. I am in touch with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary about his views on that matter.
With regard to Northern Ireland, we are doing our utmost to ensure that the facts of the British position and of British policy are made available throughout the world by the many means at our disposal.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesIs not the Minister of State now using the same kind of double-speak that he used when he said that there were not to be any cuts in the BBC's external services? Has he not read the report of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, which points out that £750,000 was spent on the VIP suites at Heathrow and Gatwick? Would not it be better if the Foreign and Commonwealth Office cut out these wasteful frills, both at home and abroad, instead of decimating the BBC's external services?
§ Mr. RidleyThe Select Committee came to the conclusion
that the capital programme has been cut too often and by too much and that the time has now come to spend more money on it.We are doing precisely that. Two of the right hon. Gentleman's hon. Friends have already this afternoon urged me to open an embassy in Managua, so, far from advocating economies in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office the Opposition are advocating expenditure.
§ Mr. DurantIs my hon. Friend aware that there is widespread anxiety about this subject? Will he again make absolutely clear the Government's position on the matter? I find myself slightly confused by his answer.
§ Mr. RidleyI agree that there has been widespread concern, and I would welcome an opportunity to give the full facts and figures to the House. [HON. MEMBERS: "Give them. "] In summary, a capital programme amounting at present prices to £102 million has been authorised to make the BBC overseas services audible in all parts of the world by the end of the decade. That is a large increase. The BBC has been asked to find savings of only about £23 million over the period towards that capital cost of £102 million.
§ Mr. JayIf nearly everyone concerned misunderstands the Government's proposals must not the Government have done rather badly in explaining them?
§ Mr. RidleyIf I may suggest a thought to the right hon. Gentleman, the Government give full editorial freedom to the BBC, and the Government do not control the media.