Written evidence from Elzbieta Rembowska
I am writing to urge you to rethink the cuts you
are intending to make to the World Service Funding. I worked for
the BBC World Service for nearly 20 years in the Soviet Union,
in the sub-continent, and on various occasions at events around
the world. I know first-hand the importance of the service to
the audience. Before that I learned from relations back in Poland
how much the World Service was valued throughout the Eastern bloc.
The cold war may be over but the need for straight honest broadcasting
is not.
If you mention the BBC doors are opened—and
this is because of what it stands for—the integrity of its
news service—the social programming—the advocacy of
human rights &c. It raises the standing of Britain throughout
the world—to get rid of it—and there has to be a minimum
size it can be reduced to before it self implodes—does great
harm to an institution which is valued around the world. Furthermore
I would draw your attention to the monies pouring into Chinese
international radio—this is not when we should be taking
out a service which is serving people's needs and promoting a
vision of the world which values democracy, challenges corruption
and promotes human rights.
Please stop the cuts—you can save a Service
which does this country the world of good for a very small sum
of money.
7 February 2011
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