We asked the BBC how it proves value for money and whether it has compelling metrics to demonstrate this to the FCDO.23 The BBC told us that the World Service currently cost around 87 pence per user per year as an indicator of efficiency.24 However, the BBC does not yet have a comprehensive set of measures that link its World Service expenditure to outputs and outcomes across TV, radio and digital platforms and we note that a single cost-per-user figure cannot capture impact or soft-power benefits.25 The BBC acknowledged that work is ongoing to present spend alongside outcomes more clearly across platforms, but emphasised that value for money must also reflect audience need, trust and strategic benefit in contested environment.26