Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

BBC World Service

Tuesday 8 November 2022 · 1 question

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The FCDO values the BBC World Service's role in countering disinformation, especially narratives from Russia.
  • The FCDO has provided an additional 1.44 million this year to support the World Service's work.
  • The BBC World Service receives an annual funding of 94 million from the FCDO.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Whittingdale Con Maldon
Foreign Affairs Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The MP is concerned about the role of the BBC World Service in countering disinformation and the proposed reduction in its budget.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that the BBC World Service plays an ever more important role in countering disinformation, particularly from Russia and elsewhere? Will he therefore look to increase the amount of support that his Department gives to the World Service, and does he share my concern that the BBC is proposing to reduce funding by £28 million with the loss of 10 radio services?

Answer from David Rutley

The FCDO greatly values the World Service's role in countering disinformation, particularly President Putin's harmful narratives. It has provided an additional £1.44 million this year to support this work on top of our annual £94 million funding. The changes reflect the BBC's ambition to become a digital-first organisation and audiences will retain access to all 42 language services.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for an increase in departmental support, which was not directly committed to in the answer.

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