HC Deb 22 June 1993 vol 227 c82W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to enhance the output and reputation of the World Service.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

In discussions with the World Service in March and April this year we reached broad agreement on plans for the next funding triennium (April 1994 to March 1997), and on priority areas for development, funded from savings elsewhere in the World Service. These plans, which remain subject to the outcome of the current public expenditure survey, take account of the need to respond to changes in the former Soviet Union, and include the introduction of two central Asian languages.