MPs to look into future funding of the World Service

The Culture Media and Sport (CMSC) and Foreign Affairs Committees are to launch separate inquiries into the future funding of the BBC World Service.

A “short” inquiry by cross-party MPs, newly appointed to the CMSC, will look at the services the international broadcaster provides, how it is paid for, the challenges it faces operating around the world, and the pressures funding it through the licence fee places on other BBC services. The CMSC will provide details of evidence sessions related to the inquiry in due course.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Committee will examine similar issues, but specifically focus on how the World Service is funded and run, and whether the reduction of funding will have an impact on the UK’s soft power abroad.

The World Service, which reaches an estimated 320m people around the world each week and operates in 42 languages, is funded primarily (75%) from the licence fee, amounting to £265m. Tim Davie has argued that funding should be the responsibility of the government, as it was before 2014.

The announcement of the inquiries comes shortly after last week’s Budget revealed additional funding would be set aside for the World Service from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) budget, but only for the financial year 2025-26.

It is not yet known how much money it will receive in addition to the £104m FCDO contribution for 2023-24 financial year.

Chair of the CMSC Caroline Dinenage said: “For nearly 100 years, the BBC World Service has been a hugely respected source of trusted journalism for millions and has played a key role in enhancing the UK’s global identity and influence on the world stage.

“With current funding pressures creating challenges for the BBC budget, the timing is right to examine how it can best be financed into the future, with a model that balances the government’s objectives and value for money for the licence payer.”

Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Emily Thornberry said: “World Service journalists operate in difficult – and sometimes dangerous – circumstances. Journalists place their lives on the line to deliver truthful and trusted reporting to millions. In autocratic, oppressive regimes, they are at times the sole dissenting voice and play a vital role in countering disinformation.

“While last week’s Budget pledged to protect the service and increase funding, the devil is very much in the detail. We are yet to hear how much will be spent and on what. This inquiry will ask whether the World Service has the funding and support it needs to continue to deliver impartial, high-quality journalism.

“In particular, the Committee will focus on changes to the funding model of the World Service and ask whether cuts to its Budget have placed the service under pressure.”

Last month, Davie sounded the alarm that Russian and Chinese state-funded media are moving in to fill gaps where the World Service has seen recent cuts.