Sir Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to paragraph 4.44 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, whether any of the additional funding allocated to the BBC World Service will go towards BBC Monitoring; and whether her Department plans to take steps to scrutinise the distribution of this funding.  [12909]

[Due for Answer on 12 November. Answered on 14 November.]

ANSWER

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan (Hamish Falconer): The Autumn Budget 2024 announced a government grant funding uplift for the BBC World Service in 2025-26. The uplift is for the BBC World Service only, ensuring it can continue to operate in 42 languages and helping to maintain its crisis response capability. The BBC is operationally and editorially independent and sets its own budgets.