To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has mechanisms in place to ascertain whether the BBC World Service employs former Soviet military intelligence personnel. (274675)

The BBC World Service (BBCWS) is operationally, editorially and managerially independent of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as stated in the Broadcasting Agreement between the BBC and the FCO for the provision of BBCWS. It is not for the FCO to ascertain the credentials of BBCWS staff or veto their appointment.