§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will make an assessment of the benefits to the United Kingdom from BBC World; [108649]
(2) what discussions he has had with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in respect of funding for BBC World. [108648]
§ Mr. Chris Smith[holding answer 7 February 2000]: I have had no such discussions with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. BBC World is a commercial venture and we have no plans to assess its impact overseas, though I would expect that, in its own way, BBC World makes a positive contribution to the standing of the United Kingdom.