BBC World Service (Hansard, 21 January 1999)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)
My Lords, the BBC World Service is drawing up its strategic plan for the next three years. The BBC is considering its priorities in the light of political, technological and commercial developments given the increase in World Service funding of on average 3.8 per cent. in each year over the 1998–99 level. We expect detailed proposals soon to be submitted to my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary.

§ Baroness David
My Lords, I thank the Minister for her Answer and welcome the news of the increased grant which will help to improve the service. Will she assure the House that changing to FM and the Internet, which is not available to millions of people in Russia, Eastern Europe and developing countries, will not take place at the expense of short wave services which are available in those countries? Will she ensure that those services will continue and that the staff who work for them will not be made redundant?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I draw my noble friend's attention to the article by the 699 BBC Chief Executive in today's Independent which emphasises the BBC's commitment to the World Service as a global mission. It is difficult for me to give specific assurances about the plan without leaking the plan itself. It has not been finalised. It must be finalised to go to the BBC governors and then it will be submitted to my right honourable friend.
Perhaps I may suggest to my noble friend that once the plan has been finalised we arrange for the BBC Chief Executive to make a presentation to those of your Lordships who I know are extremely interested in the future of the World Service. That will give your Lordships the opportunity to look at the facts and not at some of the newspaper reports we have seen in the past few days and to be able to ask questions of the person who has drawn up the plan.

§ Baroness Williams of Crosby
My Lords, the House will be aware that throughout the world there is huge respect for the objectivity and quality of the World Service and that it is one of the great British institutions. Will the Minister therefore assure us that there will be no cuts in the Arabic and Russian services at this crucial juncture in world events, albeit that there may be some change in the proportion of news and entertainment? Secondly, will she assure us that the consultation to which she has referred will take place before final decisions are made on the three-year plan, give or take immediate short-term decisions?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I cannot give that assurance. I was trying to be helpful to the House by indicating that once the plan is finalised, having gone to the governors and to my right honourable friend, we would endeavour to explain what it entails. I hoped that that was a forthcoming offer from the Government because I know that your Lordships are most concerned about the situation.
I note the noble Baroness's comments about accuracy, impartiality and objectivity of the BBC World Service. It is a market leader and has almost twice the audience of Voice of America. However, we must wait to see what comes out of the three-year strategic plan. I understand the anxieties about specific language services. Those priorities change from time to time and at the moment I am not in a position to give such undertakings to the noble Baroness.

§ Lord Hussey of North Bradley
My Lords, I was concerned with the BBC for 10 tranquil years and therefore must declare an interest as I am in receipt of a modest pension from it. During those years I was able to discover and fully confirm in my mind what has been said about the great regard in which the World Service is held around the world. It is of great value to this country and to those countries which receive it.
May I suggest to the Minister that the two most important areas for the World Service are the Middle East and Eastern Europe? In those areas independent news services, either in the press or over the airwaves, are hard to find, which makes the World Service that 700 much more valuable. Will the Minister therefore make certain that she has an opportunity to see the plan before it is finally agreed?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I hope that I have made clear that my right honourable friend will see the plan before it is finally agreed. I agree with the noble Lord about the great regard with which the BBC World Service is held throughout the world. The Government have great pride in the BBC World Service. I do not believe that there is any difference on either side of the House as to the regard in which the BBC World Service is held.
The noble Lord made specific points about the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Those issues are bound to be considered both by the BBC World Service itself in drawing up its plan, by the governors in considering that plan and by my right honourable friend. I point out to the noble Lord that the Macedonian service, for example, was opened up in 1996 and that we have seen further openings in Albania and in the Croat and Serbia services. I hope that the noble Lord is reassured about the efforts going into that part of the world.

§ Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, I am sure that the whole House agrees that the BBC World Service is acknowledged as the finest service in the world. What provisions are there for the World Service to be able to continue broadcasting effectively to crisis areas of the world, in particular the Middle East?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, the BBC World Service has increased its language services to some parts of the world which might be said to be in crisis at particular times. Under the CSR, which was published last year, the BBC is also going ahead with the new, much-needed transmitter in Oman. I hope that that will improve transmissions around that part of the world which could be said at times to be in crisis.