§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to review the proposed reductions in the BBC World Service's grant for 1997–98; and what representations he has received in support of the proposed reductions. [23816]
§ Mr. HanleyThe amount to be made available as grant in aid for the BBC World Service in 1997–98 will be considered along with all the other Government expenditure, during the 1996 public expenditure round, later this year.
The Government receive many representations in support of reduced public expenditure generally, but are not aware of any specifically relating to the BBC World Service.