The Culture, Media and Sport Committee has
written to the Government to ask for reassurances over the future
funding of the BBC World Service, following reports of potential
cuts planned for next week's Spending Review, which will set
the Government's contribution for the following few
years.
The letter highlights
the vital role of the World Service to the UK's strategic
priorities and calls on the Government to rule out both a 2% cut
to funding and any cut to the budget that will force the BBC to
close one or more of its 42 language services.
The correspondence to the Secretaries of State at CMS, the MoD
and the FCDO, notes the important role of the World Service in
tackling mis and disinformation but warns that without sufficient
resources, its services across the world may have to be reduced.
It currently reaches more than 400 million people each week in
languages from Arabic and Burmese to Ukrainian.
Around one third of the World Service budget comes from the
Government. Despite extra funding of £32.5m for the current
financial year being announced last year, the World Service said
it would still have to make savings of £6million.
Chair of the CMS Committee, Dame MP, said:
“At a time when the Government is rightly looking to enhance our
country's security, it's crucial that it does not overlook the
role played by the BBC World Service. Through its foreign
language services, it is on the frontline of the global fight
against mis and disinformation, but unless it is properly funded,
we risk handing the microphone away and giving free reign to
media backed by hostile states to become the dominant voice
around the world. Ministers have told us that the World Service
bolsters UK security. Cutting its funding now would undoubtably
make us all less safe.”
The Committee held two evidence sessions
late last year as part of work with two other committees on the
funding of the BBC World Service, and followed up with a letter urging the
Government to ensure sufficient resources so that it is less
reliant on the licence fee and short-term funding cycles.
The BBC responded to the
letter in February and the Government in March.
The BBC also wrote to the Committee
following an evidence session with the
Director General and Chair in March, which included further
content on the World Service.