§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current position of the new relay station for the World Service in Thailand; and when he expects it to be completed.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe have reached agreement in principle with the Thai authorities for the construction of the new relay station. Detailed site survey work, which is required before final project approval can be given, is close to completion. The target date for completion of the project is 1996.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the impact of the268W reduction in his Department's grant to the World Service of the BBC on the range of language services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe funding provision for the World Service from 1994–95 to 1996–97 will enable it to introduce two new language services, Uzbek and Azeri. There are no plans at present to discontinue any existing language service, but small reductions are likely in the hours of broadcast of a few services.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the BBC on the practical impact of reductions in his Department's grant to the World Service.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe planned funding levels for the 1994–95 to 1996–97 triennium, discussed in advance with the BBC, have been protected despite the toughest expenditure round for years. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials and the World Service have already provisionally discussed resource allocation for the triennium on the basis of these planned figures. Now that the figures have been confirmed, we will agree with the World Service a more detailed plan for the triennium.