Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the (a) balance of and (b) level of input from (i) Open Society Foundation and (ii) other NGOs on BBC World's coverage of (A) Poland and (B) Hungary.

The Government recognises the vital role that the BBC, including the World Service, plays across the globe. However, the BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the government and the government cannot intervene in the BBC’s day-to-day operations, including its editorial decisions.

The BBC has a duty to deliver impartial and accurate news coverage and content under its Royal Charter. It is for the BBC Board to ensure the quality of all BBC’s content, and that BBC output meets the highest standards the public expects.