BBC Radio services to global audiences

That this House recognises the tremendous value of BBC radio broadcasts in providing a global audience with a reliable, accurate and trustworthy source of news and information; is concerned at the recent cuts announced to BBC World Service, with the loss of hundreds of experienced journalists’ jobs, and also to several dedicated BBC foreign language services which will now move to digital-only provision; notes that, as the experience in Ukraine has demonstrated, radio provides a vital life-line where digital-only services are lost owing to the blocking of internet access; is further concerned about the impact of the closure of BBC Persian radio and BBC Arabic radio in the light of recent events in Iran; and therefore calls on BBC management to review and reverse these cuts, and on the Government to return responsibility for the funding of BBC World Service to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.