BBC Sounds: Access from Abroad

Viscount Colville of Culross Excerpts

Wednesday 14th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

As I made clear to my noble friend, DCMS is having ongoing conversations with the BBC to better understand the timing and implications of the proposed changes. Accessibility is clearly important. As somebody who, like many other Members of your Lordships’ House, listens using BBC Sounds when abroad, I am very grateful that the BBC is going to consider this further. However, under the current proposals, the international audience will still be able to access Radio 4, the World Service and the BBC’s journalism for free through bbc.com. Ultimately, whatever comes out of the delay to the changes and the refinement of the plans, this is a matter of operational independence for the BBC.

[Viscount Colville of Culross (CB)]

My Lords, I declare an interest in having been a BBC producer for 25 years. Today, the BBC director-general called for the “supercharging” of the BBC World Service so that it can double its audience and reach 1 billion people weekly. Can the Minister respond to his call for the Government to be ambitious for the BBC World Service and invest in its significant growth, rather than make the cuts which are being suggested at the moment?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I read the director-general’s speech with interest but, as noble Lords can imagine, since it came into my inbox five minutes before I came into the Chamber I have not had a chance to reflect on it at length. I thought, however, that the way he invoked Reithian values, and his commitment to the BBC being part of the rebuilding of trust, was really important. We recognise how vital the BBC is as a key British asset that makes a significant contribution to national life, as well as overseas through the World Service.