BBC World Service And Mr Michael Williams

EDM number 1177 in 1994-95, proposed by Peter Temple-Morris on 24/05/1995.

That this House agrees with the assessment given by Sir John Coles, permanent Secretary Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday 10th May that the BBC World Service is 'an immenseley important instrument' in terms of the promotion of Britain and of the English language overseas, and that it remains 'a very important instrument in our global policy'; reaffirms this House's support for the BBC World Service as recognised in Early Day Motion No. 1780 of the 1992-93 session which secured the signatures of 408 honourable Members, the third largest EDM since 1939; expresses the hope that the current negotiations will be successful in securing their financial future for their next triennium; congratulates Michael Williams, currently co-ordinator of the Public Affairs Office of the BBC World Service who retires on 31st May after years of sterling service for the BBC, for the friendly and ever helpful way he has maintained contact with and kept informed honourable Members and members of the House of Lords, on the needs of BBC World Service; and takes this opportunity to mark his retirement with our thanks for a job 'well done' and wishes him 'all the very best' for the future.

This motion has been signed by a total of 74 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.