In response to a question raised by Calvin Bailey, MP for Leyton and Wanstead, concerning the BBC World Service’s role in the UK’s information warfare strategy, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) clarified that the BBC World Service is not under the Defence Department’s purview.
Bailey had asked if the MOD had assessed the potential impact of the resources available to the BBC World Service on the UK’s strategic information capability, its ability to counter adversaries’ use of information as a weapon, and the use of digital technology to achieve influence.
Maria Eagle MP explained in her response, “Joint Concept Note (JCN) 2/18, Information Advantage, sets out proposals for how Defence could use information differently; it is not Government policy.”
She further clarified the separation between the MOD and the BBC, stating, “The BBC World Service is not part of Defence and therefore its funding is not a matter for the Ministry of Defence.”
This response underscores that while the MOD’s Information Advantage note provides guidance on the use of information in defence, the BBC World Service, which is often considered a tool of soft power and public diplomacy, does not fall within the department’s operational scope.
The question of the World Service’s funding and resources remains the responsibility of other government departments.
