CONSERVATIVE
New Forest East

FOREIGN AFFAIRS – BBC MONITORING SERVICE - 17 October 2017

FOREIGN AFFAIRS – BBC MONITORING SERVICE - 17 October 2017

Dr Julian Lewis: I warmly thank the Foreign Secretary for suggesting that he and I should visit the BBC Monitoring Service at Caversham Park before the crazy decision is implemented next year to sell off the site and break our link with the similar American operation there. Will he remonstrate with his officials, however, on the grounds that 45 minutes for a walk through on a Thursday is not long enough for him to see what is going on there? Given also – [Interruption.] – that the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee cannot accompany us, should the visit not be altered?

[Mr Speaker: Emotional intelligence has a premium.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Boris Johnson): I am looking forward immensely to the trip with my right hon. Friend, and I can tell him from my own experience that an immense amount can be accomplished in 45 minutes.]