§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the charges for the use of transmission faciltiies by the BBC World Service when transmission is privatised will be paid out of the Foreign Office grant; and what proposals he has to bring forward in respect of specific grant for transmission charges. [3248]
§ Mr. HanleyThe BBC World Service's costs will continue to be paid by grant in aid after privatisation of the BBC's transmission services. I have no proposals for a specific grant for transmission charges.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the BBC World Service would be allowed to hire foreign transmission facilities if these were cheaper than its own transmission facilities following privatisation. [3242]
§ Mr. HanleyThe BBC World Service already hires foreign transmission facilities where they fit in with its delivery plans, which are a matter for the World Service.