§ Mr. M. Clark Hutchisonasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what time per week is devoted in British Broadcasting Corporation oversea programmes to countering hostile propaganda by Russia and Radio Cairo in the Middle East and Africa;
(2) what percentage of the total hours on the air per week on overseas programmes by the British Broadcasting Corporation is devoted specifically to the Middle East and East Africa.
Dr. HillThe B.B.C. Arabic Service operates for 66½ hours a week and it is to he extended to 84 hours a week. In addition, services in African languages (Swahili and Somali), in Urdu and Hindi, and in English are directed to the Middle East and East Africa for an aggregate of 18¼ hours a week. The General Overseas Service in English includes transmissions directed to this area for an aggregate of 113¾ hours a week.
It is not possible to give a quantitative answer to the hon. Member's first Question. All the B.B.C.'s External Services are designed to serve the national interest by reflecting faithfully and vigorously the British way of life and responsible British opinion on current political developments, including where necessary propaganda allegations. They thus play their full part in countering propaganda hostile to British interests directed to the Middle East and East Africa from any source.