§ Sir John WheelerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the BBC's borrowing limits are to be increased.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerI am today placing in the Library a copy of a supplemental charter which has been approved166W today by counsellors of state on Her Majesty's behalf. This increases the BBC's borrowing limit under article 3(w) of the charter from £100 million to £200 million, with power for the Secretary of State to approve further sums up to a maximum of £250 million. These changes are intended to allow for the expected effects on cash flow of the budget payment scheme for television licences and the licence fee settlement announced earlier this year.