§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much grant-in-aid, raised from taxation, is paid to the BBC to support its external services; and how much money has been paid in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Luard:The grants-in-aid paid to the BBC since 1973–74 to support the external services are as follows:
£ 1973–74 16,713,000 1974–75 20,546,000 1975–76 26,653,000 1976–77 30,259,000 1977–78 33,199,000 1978–79 (main estimate only) 34,186,000
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list any individuals or organisations who have made representations to him over the last five years that the type of financing arranged for the external service of the BBC had resulted in any Government interference in the affairs or programme content of the BBC's external service.
§ Mr. Luard:My right hon. Friend is not aware of any representations having been made to this effect. Under the Licence and Agreement which governs the operations of the BBC's external services, the BBC enjoys complete editorial independence.