To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the funding of the BBC World Service during (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02. [79982]

Following the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review in July 1998, grant-in-aid to the BBC World Service was increased by £44.2 million to £175.5 million in 1999–2000, £174.0 million in 2000–01 and £177.7 million in 2001 –02, a real increase of on average nearly 3.9 per cent. in each year above the 1998–99 level. This compares with a CSR increase for the FCO of around 2 per cent. per annum.