BBC Arabic Service

EDM number 770 in 1995-96, proposed by Austin Mitchell on 23/04/1996.

That this House, concerned at the threat to the independence and impartiality of the BBC's World Service from the development of commercial partnerships, considers that the censorship of BBC programmes and now the total suspension of the Arabic Service by Orbit Communications exemplifies the dangers; and urges the BBC to make speedy alternative arrangements to continue to broadcast its high-quality news to the Middle East, and not to take the consequences of the present breakdown out on the staff of its Arabic TV, many of whom were recruited on promises of long-term employment and told that their jobs did not depend on the contract with Orbit Communications, but who are deprived of information about what is happening to their jobs, their service and to independent broadcasting in the Arab world.

This motion has been signed by a total of 70 MPs.