Written evidence from Ben Hartshorn
DON'T CUT THE WORLD SERVICE
SUMMARY
- BBC World Service promotes the UK to the world
and these proposals threaten that position.
- Will open up overseas 'markets' to other media
sources, likely to be less positive about the UK.
BIOGRAPHY
Trained as a teacher, spent 20 years working in global
education in the UK, in the voluntary sector, for a major international
charity and for DFID. Several visits to poor countries in Africa,
Asia and Latin America.
STATEMENT
The BBC World Service is an effective (and cheap)
ambassador for the UK and one that is unique to this country.
The World Service has been making efficiency savings year on year,
leading to significant losses. There is no fat left to cut - further
cuts will have a disproportionately large impact on what the service
does.
Pound for pound, BBC World Service is one of the
most effective arms of government spending. The BBC is facing
drastic cuts that have been drawn up all too hastily and I ask
that they be reconsidered.
11 February 2011
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