BBC WORLD SERVICE

Early day motion 39, tabled 27 June 2001 by Derek Wyatt (Labour). Signed by 51 members.

That this House notes that BBC World Service is cutting direct short wave transmission to USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands from 1st July saving ú500,000 per annum; further notes that in America over 230 public radio stations carry BBC World Service programmes and that out of the total 2.6 million listeners only 300,000 listen exclusively on short wave, whilst in Australia short wave listeners have dropped from 1.6 million to 100,000 over the past eight years; commends the BBC World Service for investing ú50 million in short wave enhancement in Oman, to the Gulf and South Asia, Cyprus, to the Middle East, and Singapore to East Asia; and applauds its decision to plough back the ú500,000 savings into FM expansion around the world where it is now in 121 capital cities.

Signatures by party: Labour 37, Liberal Democrat 7, Conservative 5, Scottish National Party 2.