§ Lord Campbell-Savoursasked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions have taken place between Foreign Office officials and Department for Culture, Media and Sport officials on the issue of licensing of overseas broadcasting organisations to provide services in Arabic within the United Kingdom. [HL3462]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone)From time to time officials in my department have discussed the broadcasting of Arabic speaking services with officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, both as a matter of general policy and pursuant to any specific licence applications to the ITC, to assist the ITC in fulfilling its statutory obligations under Section 143 of the 1996 Broadcasting Act.