Select Committee · International Development Committee
The future of the BBC World Service
Status: Closed
Opened: 23 Apr 2024
Closed: 24 Mar 2025
Inquiry scope
BBC World Service provides trusted news to radio, TV and digital audiences around the world in 42 languages including English, reaching a global audience of 318 million. It is chiefly funded by the UK Licence Fee with additional grant funding of £104.4mn [FY 23/24 and 24/25 respectively] from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Under this arrangement, the BBC World Service has agreed not to close any language services – but this condition set to be lifted in 2025. BBC Director General, Tim Davie, made it clear in a speech in March 2024 that "we cannot keep asking UK Licence Fee payers to invest in (the World Service) when we face cuts to UK services. We will need to discuss a long-term funding solution for the World Service that comes from central government budgets." Given its impact on the UK’s development goals, and the projection of the UK’s values across the world, the International Development Committee launched a short inquiry to establish the case for increased Government support and make recommendations beyond the current support package finishing in 2025. The inquiry focused on the BBC’s offering to ODA eligible countries and the positive influence of the service as part of the UK’s Soft Power. Read the joint statement with the Foreign Affairs and Culture, Media and Sport Committees following the conclusion of this inquiry.Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 2024 | Helen Martin · Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Jonathan Munro · BBC, Patricia Seex · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Stephanie Peacock MP · Department for Culture, Media and Sport, The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Tim Davie CBE · BBC | View ↗ |
Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Helen Martin · Deputy Director, BBC Policy | Department for Culture, Media and Sport | 1 |
| Jonathan Munro · Global Director and Deputy CEO, BBC News | BBC | 1 |
| Patricia Seex · Deputy Director, Partnerships and Corporate Management | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 1 |
| Stephanie Peacock MP · Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth | Department for Culture, Media and Sport | 1 |
| The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Latin America and Caribbean) | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 1 |
| Tim Davie CBE · Director General | BBC | 1 |
Correspondence
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