Written question asked by Lord Blunkett (Labour) on Wednesday, 22 January 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 February 2025. It was answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Labour) on Wednesday, 29 January 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
BBC World Service: Arabic
- Question
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To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the BBC World Service to reopen their Arabic language provision.
- Answer
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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.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- HL4288
- Session
- 2024-26
- Related items
- Subjects
- BBC World Service Arabic
- Link
- View this Written question on www.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2025-09-05 18:05:35 +0100
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- http://data.parliament.uk/writtenparliamentaryquestion/lords/2024-25/HL4288
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