Lord Chelwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the annual expenditure on the BBC World Service audiblity programme since 1981, and what are their plans for future funding.
§ Lord TrefgarneBy the end of the current financial year, some £106 million will have been spent since 1981 as follows on the capital programme to improve BBC World Service audibility and modernise Bush House:
1981–82 £6.1 million 1982–83 £9.5 million 1983–84 £11.6 million 1984–85 £10.0 million 1985–86 £13.1 million 1986–87 £15.6 million 1987–88 £19.0 million 1988–89 £21.1 million Provision has been made for an additional £55 million to be spent over the next two financial years on further improvements. Capital expenditure requirements for the next BBC funding triennium will be considered in detail in the 1990 public funding expenditure survey.