72nd Report - BBC World Service
Select Committee
Public Accounts Committee
HC 1299
13 March 2026
Government response
Treasury Minutes: Government response - 72nd Report - BBC World Service
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
4
Recommendation
Rejected
The BBC’s ability to carry out long-term planning of the World Service is hampered by...
Recommendation
The BBC’s ability to carry out long-term planning of the World Service is hampered by repeated short-term funding agreements from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Since 2021–22, the FCDO has provided around 30% of funding for the BBC …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees and states that it would be premature to commit to a specific long-term funding model ahead of the Charter Review, but the FCDO has confirmed grant-in-aid funding of £148 million per year for 2026–27 to 2028–29.
HM Treasury
View Details
10
Conclusion
Rejected
Funded by the licence fee and FCDO grant-in-aid, total BBC World Service funding has fallen...
Conclusion
Funded by the licence fee and FCDO grant-in-aid, total BBC World Service funding has fallen 21% in real terms over the period 2021–22 to 2025–26. In response to falling real-terms funding, the Service has been implementing its savings programmes since …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the implicit recommendation to address the funding decline, stating it is premature to commit to a specific long-term funding model for the BBC World Service ahead of the upcoming BBC Charter Review, while confirming interim funding.
HM Treasury
View Details
17
Conclusion
Rejected
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) have provided around a quarter of the BBC...
Conclusion
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) have provided around a quarter of the BBC World Service’s funding since it restarted funding in 2016–17. In return for this funding, the BBC must ensure that the World Service meets certain requirements …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with maintaining the existing funding model for BBC World Service as described, stating it would be premature to commit to a specific long-term funding model before the BBC Charter Review, where it will explore bespoke long-term funding arrangements, though interim funding is confirmed.
HM Treasury
View Details
18
Conclusion
Rejected
Since 2016–17 the FCDO has set out its funding for the World Service for between...
Conclusion
Since 2016–17 the FCDO has set out its funding for the World Service for between one and four years at a time, as well as providing additional funding for specific purposes, such as additional coverage of the Russia- Ukraine conflict. …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with committing to a specific long-term funding model now, stating it would be premature ahead of the BBC Charter Review ending December 2027. They will explore multi-year budget options as part of the Charter Review and have confirmed interim funding of £148 million per year for 2026–27 to 2028–29.
HM Treasury
View Details
19
Conclusion
Rejected
The BBC told us that its ability to effectively carry out long-term budgeting and strategy...
Conclusion
The BBC told us that its ability to effectively carry out long-term budgeting and strategy planning is hampered by the FCDO’s funding approach. For example, the BBC noted that, at the time of our evidence session on 8 January, it …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with committing to a specific long-term funding model now, stating it would be premature ahead of the BBC Charter Review ending December 2027. They will explore multi-year budget options as part of the Charter Review and have confirmed interim funding of £148 million per year for 2026–27 to 2028–29.
HM Treasury
View Details
20
Conclusion
Rejected
We asked the BBC what it would do if it were to receive the funding...
Conclusion
We asked the BBC what it would do if it were to receive the funding settlement it requested from the FCDO. The BBC told us that it was grateful that the FCDO had increased funding by £30 million in 2025–26 …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states it disagrees with the committee's perceived recommendation regarding funding for the BBC World Service. It explains it is premature to commit to a specific long-term funding model ahead of the Charter Review but confirms interim grant-in-aid funding of £148 million per year for 2026–27 to 2028–29.
HM Treasury
View Details