§ Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions have been given to the BBC concerning proposed cuts in the three financial years from 1st April 1977 amounting to £2,164,000, in the budget of the External Services.
§ Mr. EnnalsNone. Any necessary changes in expenditure planned by the BBC External Services for the years in question will be discussed with the BBC
SERVICE TERMINATED Sinhala: the present service of two 30-minute programmes weekly will cease. Services reduced From To French (for Europe) … … … … 4 hours 2 hours 45 minutes daily German … … … … 4 hours 30 minutes 3 hours 30 minutes daily Romanian … … … … 2 hours 15 minutes 2 hours daily Bulgarian … … … … 2 hours 1 hour 45 minutes daily Arabic … … … … 10 hours 9 hours daily Chinese … … … … 2 hours 45 minutes 2 hours 30 minutes daily Discussions with the BBC on any changes resulting from more recent decisions to reduce Government expenditure further in subsequent years have not yet begun.
616Win the light of the White Paper on public expenditure which will be published shortly.
§ Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the 1974 Civil Service departmental inquiry into the economic management of the External Services was considered during recent discussions with the BBC about proposed cuts in these services.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe Management Review of the BBC External Services undertaken by the Civil Service Department in 1974 is not relevant to this question. It was concerned with management and, in particular, the control of resources, including manpower and finance and reported that it found a smoothly running and efficient organisation. The review was not concerned with the rôle of the External Services nor the general level of the grant in aid.
§ Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) which foreign language services currently provided by BBC External Services will cease as a result of economies requested by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office;
(2) which foreign language services will be reduced in broadcasting hours as a result of economies requested by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
§ Mr. EnnalsAs a result of the reduction in Government expenditure announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget last spring, the following changes in the prescription for external broadcasting have been agreed with the BBC and will take effect on 1st April 1976.