HL Deb 16 March 1982 vol 428 cc641-2WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether (a) the BBC's Royal Charter or (b) the BBC's Licence Agreement make it illegal for the BBC to arrange for the External Services to be heard in the United Kingdom, and which section of which statute sets out the law which the BBC would be breaking.

Lord Trefgarne

Clause 3(c)(i)(b) of the BBC Licence and Agreement defines the External Services as being for "countries and places beyond the seas" and Clause 17(1) provides for these services to be financed by such sums as the Treasury shall authorise out of monies provided by Parliament. It would be a misuse of funds intended by Parliament for the purpose of overseas broadcasting if they were employed deliberately for broadcasts to the United Kingdom. The BBC Home Services may re-broadcast material produced by the External Services provided there is no extra cost to the latter.