BBC World Service

HC Deb 30 October 2000 vol 355 c238W

Mr. Ian Stewart

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the BBC World Service. [135905]

Mr. Hain

The BBC has today announced that the BBC World Service will move from Bush House to Broadcasting House at the end of 2006. We welcome and endorse this decision, about which we have been kept fully informed.

We are confident that the World Service will maintain in Broadcasting House the standards and traditions that have made it the world's best known and most respected voice in international broadcasting. The new location will be better suited than Bush House to enable the World Service to meet the challenges of the digital age—for which the Government made available an additional £64 million in the recent Spending Review—and to work to maximum effect with key BBC partners.

It also offers better value for money than remaining at Bush House.