§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps are being taken to improve the reception of the BBC World Service for British forces.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIn addition to the substantial measures already taken to improve reception in the Gulf since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, by increasing the number of frequencies and extending the hours of broadcasting, arrangements for high quality local rebroadcasting of the World Service are in hand. The arrangements made through the Services Sound and Vision Corporation to bring BBC World Service programmes to troops in the Gulf over special channels are a matter for the Secretary of State for Defence. British forces, as well as the wider public, in other parts of the world are benefiting from a 10-year programme of investment in audibility which is now almost complete.
§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps he is taking to improve the reception of the BBC World Service to the Gulf area generally.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydSubstantial improvements have already been made, following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The BBC has increased the number of shortwave frequencies serving the Gulf and the time that they are available. High-power medium wave transmissions have been added to provide additional coverage throughout the night hours. In addition, arrangements for high-quality local rebroadcasting of the BBC World Service are in hand.