Speeches by Waugh.

“I would like to ask you about the long term. Baroness Chapman, you told the Lords last month that “it was a mistake to put that burden”, for the World Service, “entirely on the licence fee payer”, and you said you were open to future funding models. Do you accept that the current hybrid funding model is unsustainable?”

“Given that the money does come from the FCDO rather than from CMS, do you accept that the current hybrid model is unsustainable?”

“I can see that the brilliantly advised Minister Peacock wants to step in right now.”

“I declare my interest as a member of the National Union of Journalists and as a former presenter of BBC Radio 4’s “Week in Westminster”. It is radio that I would like to ask you about, and particularly the closure of BBC Arabic and BBC Persian radio services. Mr Munro, you talked about people living in the rubble of Ga…”

“I totally get the point about the charter review, but this is specifically an inquiry into World Service funding. That is why I was directing it at Baroness Chapman. My own Chair may now have a question on longer-term funding as well.”

“Director General, was the FCDO made aware beforehand of that decision to withdraw radio services from BBC Arabic?”

“Notwithstanding your editorial independence, it would be interesting if you could write to us to let us know whether there was any feedback from the Government about anticipation about that decision and the impact of it, and whether there was any decision within Government to say, “You have consulted us. We think it is…”

“The shadow Home Secretary referred to “sycophancy” towards the Chinese, but I think that charge is better directed at Members of his own party. It is less than five years since Theresa May went to Beijing, where she was praised by the state media; I know that because I was on that trip, in a former career. She was prai…”

“Pippa, Britain’s first ever illegal vape sniffer dog, won a special hero award this week from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. Springer spaniel Pippa was honoured along with Rochdale trading standards and police for their work seizing vapes targeted at children by organised crime groups. Will the Leader of th…”

“In your opinion, what legislative routes would be better than that?”

“In your opinion, what legislative routes would be better than that?”

“Thanks very much for coming. Ed, first to you, you released the statement on AI training data in October that was supported by many leading figures in the creative industry, from Björn from ABBA to Thom Yorke and many others. Why did you feel that statement was needed, and has it achieved what you hoped it would?”

“That is fantastic. Thank you.”

“I get that. Martin?”

“We will let you two take that up later. Can I bring in Martin?”

“That is helpful.”

“Thank you, Chair. I want to talk a bit about the ethical use of AI. We have all touched on this in different ways. Ben, I want to say that “Virtually Parkinson” is uncanny. It is extraordinary for anyone who listens to it. It is interesting that you said you have the licence, so you have permission. You have full buy-i…”

“Thanks very much for coming. Ed, first to you, you released the statement on AI training data in October that was supported by many leading figures in the creative industry, from Björn from ABBA to Thom Yorke and many others. Why did you feel that statement was needed, and has it achieved what you hoped it would?”

“That is fantastic. Thank you.”

“I get that. Martin?”