§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to ensure that cash limits will not affect the integrity and scope of news output by the BBC external services; and if he will seek to extend and adequately finance news of the British Parliament and news broadcasts.
§ Mr. BrittanThe relationship of Her Majesty's Government to the BBC external services is governed by the BBC charter and by the licence and agreement between the Government and the BBC. Under this the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's powers are limited to prescribing, after consultation with the corporation, the number of hours broadcast, languages in which programmes are transmitted, and certain other services such as monitoring. The management of the BBC external services, like the content of the programmes, is solely a matter for the BBC. It is therefore a matter for the BBC to decide how to keep within cash limits.
Similarly, as regards the BBC's home services, it is for the corporation to decide how to deploy its resources within the total income available, and it would be improper for the Government to seek to influence the BBC in deciding how to use those resources and what programmes to broadcast.
However, the corporation is required under article 13(2) of the licence and agreement to broadcast an impartial account day by day prepared by professional reporters of the proceedings in both Houses of Parliament.