§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are observed 382W when deciding to which countries and programmes reduction of BBC External Services are to be applied.
§ Mr. EnnalsWhen the grant-in-aid is reduced my Department is particularly concerned that the consequential savings should detract as little as possible from the impact of the External Services abroad. Where enough economies cannot be found by shortening programmes the choice of service to be abolished is made after considering cost and audibility and also broader questions of priorities and alternatives.