§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his officials have had with HM Treasury as part of the spending review with regard to funding for the BBC World Service. [65753]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe BBC World Service's bid was submitted in February to HM Treasury in full, as part of the FCO's bid for additional funding in the Spending Review. Since then, my officials have been actively discussing the merits of the FCO's bid, including the BBC World Service, with Treasury officials. The BBC World Service has also made its own presentation to Treasury.