Written Question
Monday 10th February 2025
Asked by:
Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 29 January (HL4288), what discussions they have had with the BBC regarding the announcement on 29 January to make redundancies in the World Service.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
- Minister of State (Development)
The BBC are operationally, editorially independent and decide the most effective and efficient way to deliver the World Service, this includes staffing matters.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers engage routinely with the BBC on the World Service. The BBC discussed their plans for the World Service in 2025/26 with the FCDO, as part of the Spending Review process.
Written Question
Wednesday 29th January 2025
Asked by:
Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the BBC World Service to reopen their Arabic language provision.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
- Minister of State (Development)
The BBC Arabic language service continues to operate. Through its digital and TV services it reaches an audience of 35 million across the Middle East and North Africa. The emergency radio service for Gaza reaches approximately 700,000 people a week.
The BBC are operationally and editorially independent and decide the most appropriate way to deliver the World Service, therefore the closure of BBC Arabic radio service in 2023 was a decision for them.
The Government is providing a funding uplift of £32.6 million in 2025/26 to ensure the World Service continues operating in all 42 languages.
Future Government funding for the World Service will be determined through the Spending Review process.
Speech in Lords Chamber - Fri 09 Sep 2022
Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
"My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Evans, and to thank her for her time as Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House.
Much has been said, and there will be much more to say over the weeks and months ahead—condolences, of course, to …..."Lord Blunkett - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 09 Mar 2022
Ukraine: Disasters Emergency Committee Appeal
"My Lords, the incredible generosity of the British people in the donations that we are discussing is equally matched by the desire of business, of faith and community groups, and of families to take hold of and be able to use the sponsorship scheme that was announced this time last …..."Lord Blunkett - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 15 Apr 2021
Domestic Animals
"My Lords, as has already been touched on, there has already been a massive upsurge in the purchase of domestic animals during lockdown. It is clear that, as people return to normal forms of working, there will be an acceleration of the abandonment of many pets, particularly dogs. Is the …..."Lord Blunkett - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 15 May 2018
Gaza
"My Lords—..."Lord Blunkett - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 10 Jun 2013
GCHQ
"May I reinforce what my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr Straw) has said and confirm from my own experience what the Foreign Secretary has said about the legal and ethical framework and the safeguards? I know that to be true, and it is from that background that …..."Lord Blunkett - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 26 May 2010
Foreign Affairs and Defence
"I, too, offer my congratulations to a fellow south Yorkshireman. In the spirit of what he is describing, and in the light of the domestic defence review, it might be possible for the Foreign Secretary to contemplate sharing the cost of and future planning for any renewal of nuclear capacity …..."Lord Blunkett - View Speech
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