BBC World Service (Hansard, 29 November 1995)

§ 24. Mr. Harris
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future funding of the BBC World Service. [878]

§ Mr. Hanley
I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Swansea, East, Mr. Anderson in the House today.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to change the present three-year funding agreement with the BBC World Service. [2270]

§ Mr. Hanley
The triennium system for the World Service was instituted 10 years ago to bring it in line with the rest of the BBC. Since then there have been many changes in the management of public sector finances. We are exploring modifications to the system with the World Service. There can be no absolute guarantee of fixed funding for three years for any publicly funded organisation.
788W

§ Mr. Dykes
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the input of satellite technology deployment on the reception quality for the BBC World Service radio transmission funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement of future prospects. [475]

§ Mr. Hanley
[holding answer 28 November 1995]: The world service uses satellites to distribute to its overseas relay stations. Satellites have improved reliability and technical quality. They have enabled World Service programmes to be broadcast by over 900 MW and FM radio stations. A new satellite distribution system, which is being introduced from 1 April 1996, will bring further significant improvements.
For the longer term, the World Service is investigating direct to home satellite transmission to replace shortwave transmissions. This will depend on the development of low-cost receivers and agreement on the co-ordination of frequencies in the broadcast satellite sound bands. It will probably take many years from the introduction of satellite broadcast before there are sufficient receivers in use to allow the ending of shortwave transmissions.