§ Mrs. Peacockasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will use his good offices to facilitate examination by the National Audit Office of the finances of the external services of the BBC; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarIn our view, it is right that the National Audit Office should have access to the accounts of the BBC external services, in order to carry out economy, efficiency and effectiveness examinations. We have used our best endeavours to persuade the external services to allow the National Audit Office such access. This would in no way diminish the independent responsibility which the BBC external services rightly exercise over their editorial policy.