OD (81)....
March 1981
ľ
T
DSR 11C
CONFIDENTIAL
CABINET
DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY COMMITTEE
1
1.
XTERNAL
BBC EXTERNAL SERVICES
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs
My minute of 21 July 1980 to the Prime Minister and
OD colleagues described the position reached in discussion.
between FCO Ministers and the management of the BBC Extern:
Services.
2.
a.
Decisions are now required on:-
obliging the BBC to make a cut of £1.7m p.a.
(at 1980 Survey Prices) in current operations
on the transcription services and vernacular
language broadcasts to Western Europe;
b. financing a capital programme to improve
audibility which would require new money from
the contingency reserve of £5.8m in 1983/84
and £4.9m in 1984/85.
These proposals form a carefully worked-out package
which I believe is essential if we are once for all to
ensure the BBC's audibility and avoid difficulties in
(Annex A) Parliament. The attached table/condensed version of
table enclosed with Mr. Ridley's letter of 10 February to
Mr. Lawson with BBC and CED figures combined to be
agreed with Treasury 7 shows that if the plan is accepted
there will be an underspending of the existing PESC
/provision
CONFIDENTIAL
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