| Point made in Observer article
| World Service response |
| English service's programme-making "ripped out of Bush House" . . . "subordinated to editors with no knowledge of the world audience . . ."
| After the restructuring of the BBC in April 1997, World Service English language programmes are commissioned by the World Service but made by either BBC News or BBC Production.
Commissioning Editors of all World Service programmes are World Service staffers and work at Bush House. The World Service newsroom remains at Bush House. Some English Programme making departments have moved to be with their colleagues in BBC Production (e.g., Drama is now based at Broadcasting House) while others remain at Bush House (e.g., Science and Religion). Indeed Radio Science and BBC On-Line have moved to Bush House. The vast majority of the World Service staff affected by restructuring have remained at Bush House.
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| "BBC managers volunteering cuts in services . . ."
| The portfolio of language services has always evolved, adapted and changed. Five services closed between 1991 and 1997, a period that included the end of John Tusa's tenure as World Service Managing Director. Like any other organisation, World Service is constantly shifting resources from lower to higher priorities to take account of political, technological and market developments
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| "The cuts follow the reduction in funding announced last July by the Foreign Office . . ."
| Funding has not been reduced. The claimed £20 million cut is money that we never had. Last summer, World Service made a bid to the Government for additional funding as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. The final settlement was around £20 million less than we had originally asked for, but it still gave us an extra £44 million across the next three years, over and above our current annual grant of £160 million. £30 million is for programmes and services, and £14 million is for new capital investment.
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| ". . . further reductions of 2.5 per cent in funding . . ."
| Like all public sector organisations we are committed to achieving value for money and have an on-going efficiency savings programme aiming to reduce costs this year by 2.5 per cent. This has been announced. However, it is not a cut in our overall budget. This money will be used to fund further investments in World Service.
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| "the business plan . . . should be presented to the public in February by none other than the Foreign Secretary . . ."
| The World Service never suggested that the Foreign Secretary should launch the three year plan. Indeed, it was the Chief Executive, World Service who launched the Three Year Plan in February. However, with the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement comes a new working relationship with the Foreign Office. This is to be set out in a new financial memorandum and broadcasting agreement. There had been a discussion that the Foreign Secretary may wish to be involved in the launch of these—but he has not been approached to do so by World Service.
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| ". . . the very things the World Service once defended are being eagerly dismantled—by the BBC itself."
| The BBC's worldwide reputation for accuracy, truth, trust, creativity, quality and independence is based very much on the achievements of the World Service. The idea that we would have our own secret plan to "eagerly dismantle" such a fantastic institution is nonsensical. The Three Year Plan has been seen to be a forward looking and ambitious plan focused on securing the long-term future of the World Service.
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