§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which external services of the British Broadcasting Corporation will be affected and what number of posts will be lost arising from his decision to scale down the services' funding for the 1985–86 financial year.
§ Mr. RentonBBC external services' funding for the 1985–86 financial year at approximately £91 million is 7 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1984–85. The external services were requested to absorb £1.2 million in risen costs relating to pay and pay-related awards. They have informed us that they will be able to do this without reducing their broadcasting services. It is for the BBC to decide whether any posts need be lost. We have been told, however, that no redundancies are envisaged.