§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the change in real terms since 1994–95 to his Office's funding to the BBC World Service. [4739]
§ Mr. HanleyForeign and Commonwealth Office funding to the BBC World Service through grant in aid decreased in real terms by 0.67 per cent. between 1994–95 and 1995–96.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what restrictions apply to the award of sponsorship rights to potential participants in any use of the private finance initiative of the BBC World Service; [4756]
(2) what plans he has to allow the BBC World Service to take (a) advertising or (b) finance from overseas Governments or agencies. [4757]
§ Mr. HanleyUnder the terms of its current licence and agreement, the BBC is prohibited from broadcasting sponsored programmes. It would also need to seek agreement to accept advertising from any source or take finance from overseas Governments or agencies. Subject to the overriding requirements of safeguarding its impartiality, we would look at any proposals the World Service might make constructively, bearing in mind the increasing use of local rebroadcasting partnerships to reach audiences more effectively.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the BBC World Service's capital budget the reduction in funding announced on 28 November represents. [4755]
§ Mr. HanleyThe reduction in funding for 1996–97 amounts to 19.3 per cent. of the World Service's capital budget, but this takes no account of the opportunities presented by the private finance initiative.
339W
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with the BBC World Service as to which transmitters will be affected by the reduction in the funding of the BBC World Service; and to what extent; [4763]
(2) to what extent the private finance initiative can be applied to overseas projects of the BBC World Service; [4759]
(3) what consultations he has had about the consequences of the reduction in the BBC World Service's budget; [4754]
(4) what monitoring he has carried out as to the effect on programme services of the reduction in funding to the BBC World Service; with what result; and if he will make a statement; [4762]
(5) if the private finance initiative will be applied to improvements in existing projects of the BBC World Service; [4758]
(6) what recommendations he has made to the BBC World Service as to the areas of transmission in which economies should be made. [4760]
§ Mr. HanleyWe hold regular discussions with the BBC World Service, about its plans and priorities. I shall be meeting the managing director of the World Service shortly. Detailed talks on funding for the next three-year period will start in the New Year.
It is for the World Service to judge the best deployment of transmitters. Audibility has been vastly improved as a result of a £166 million investment programme. A further new relay station is being built in Thailand at a cost of £29 million.
The private finance initiative offers the World Service opportunity to involve private sector finance and expertise and may, in principle, be applied to projects overseas as well as in the United Kingdom. Projects which are already contractually committed are not affected.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the BBC World Service budget for transmitters and satellite distribution is already contractually committed. [4761]
§ Mr. HanleyOver 70 per cent. of the BBC World Service's capital budget for 1995–96, and all of the operating budget line, for transmitter and satellite distribution is already contractually committed.