STOURBRIDGE MP Margot James has called for extra funding for the BBC’s Hindi Service, part of the BBC World Service.
The BBC World Service, currently funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, will instead be funded from the BBC licence fee in three years time.
But Ms James called for the World Service to receive funding from the Department for International Development (DfID).
The Conservative MP argued that using the international development budget to fund to the BBC World Service could offer greater protection to the BBC’s Hindi Service.
Margot said “The BBC World Service is a beacon of hope to so many people in the world. It is so important that we must try to find additional sources of funding for it.
“The World Service certainly contributes to international development so I trust that it will be possible for the Hindi Service to be funded by the Department for International Development.”
Foreign Secretary William Hague said in response that it would be possible for funding to be found from the DfID.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here