Estimates Day — [2nd Allotted Day — 1st Part] — Supplementary Estimates, 2004–05 — Future of the BBC

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:07 pm on 9 March 2005.

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Photo of Chris Bryant Chris Bryant Labour, Rhondda 3:07, 9 March 2005

I am grateful to my hon. Friend because that is precisely the point that I was going to make. The BBC needs to understand that local radio services should mean genuinely local radio services. For example, it is astounding that the BBC in Wales has no ISDN link for people to be able to do interviews anywhere in the valleys or in mid-Wales. That is the sort of issue that the BBC needs to resolve for the future if it is to maintain its regional strength.

The hon. Member for Blaby mentioned the World Service briefly, and it is an important part of Britain's contribution to the world. One need not talk to many politicians in countries that have experienced dictatorships or restrictions on state broadcasters to realise what an important part the BBC has played, through the World Service, in maintaining Britain's reputation and enhancing human rights. However, I wish the BBC had more freedom to provide a better international television service. Perhaps my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State could address that point when she winds up. I would like to see a BBC television world service, because that could offer the world something very significant.