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The Earl of Effingham (Con)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 14 May 2025

Debate

BBC Sounds: Access from Abroad

Contribution

My Lords, the journalist and former “World News Today” presenter Kirsty Lang described this decision as “devastating for all our overseas listeners … I have no idea why they’re cutting it or why they can’t introduce a subscription for people living outside the UK”. The principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire suggested that BBC Sounds could be made available for a monthly fee, and that “Millions of others outside UK would pay for the great content”. I appreciate that the BBC is operationally independent of the Government, but surely the Minister can constructively challenge the BBC as to why a monthly subscription fee would not be a viable option, particularly in view of its current £500 million deficit. Will she please commit to doing so?

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