HC Deb 12 July 1983 vol 45 c324W
Mr. Rippon

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any proposals for further reductions in the BBC's external services.

Mr. Whitney

As announced by the Chancellor on 7 July, public expenditure is running at a significantly higher level than is consistent with the 1983–84 planning total announced in the Public Expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 8789), and, in order to bring the total spending closer to the planned path, cash limits for the current year will be reduced. The implications of the Chancellor's announcement for the BBC's external services finances are under consideration.