§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what terms and conditions(a) the BBC and (b) the United States of America operate on Ascension. [44060]
§ Mr. FatchettThe BBC, which runs a World Service relay station on Ascension, and other organisations on Ascension operate there on the basis that they meet the costs of the Administration and the cost of providing common services. They do this by means of an annual contribution to the common services budget prepared by Ascension Islands Services JV, the main supplier of common services. The BBC is the joint owner, with Cable and Wireless, of Ascension Island Services.
The terms and conditions covering the presence of the United States of America on Ascension are set out in a series of bilateral Agreements and Exchanges of Notes, between Her Majesty's government and the Government of the United States of America. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.