Final Broadcast Of Westway Programme On BBC World Service

EDM number 892 in 2005-06, proposed by Ann Keen on 28/10/2005.

That this House regrets that Westway, the BBC World Service radio soap, had its final broadcast on the World Service on 29th October; notes that this programme has been going out on that service twice a week since 1997, and has an audience estimated at between three and 20 million around the world; further notes that it was set in a West London medical centre and tackled issues such as a Muslim girl bullied at school for wearing a headscarf and an immigrant doctor who discovers she is HIV positive, tackled health issues of the day and broadcast the virtues of UK multiculturalism to the world; believes that it has been a great tool for the UK and a lifeline for many young people where such issues in their own countries are not tackled and that such programmes can be much more effective than a dry news programme in getting a message across; congratulates the actors, writers and technicians who contributed to this series over those eight years; and further regrets that the BBC has taken the decision to cut this example of realistic drama and multiculturalism which was popular with its listeners at a time when the BBC has said that it wants more of both on its channels.

This motion has been signed by a total of 23 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.