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Ever since the "worked-out-over-a-weekend" licence fee deal was announced in October 2010, we've been waiting for details of exactly how the BBC World Service will be funded from 2014.

There's been mention of papers, and positioning, and reports, in BBC Trust minutes, but nothing we can read. So the Foreign Affairs Committee has had a pop, to encourage a little transparency.

We find it unacceptable that the BBC World Service will not know for certain either the priorities, targets or characteristics which have been set for it, or its budget from April 2014 onwards, until only a few months before the new arrangements for oversight and funding come into effect. We do not see how the BBC World Service can plan properly how to reflect its new priorities, pursue its new objectives or shape its output according to the Operating Licence given the short lead-in time..... 

We recommend that a draft Operating Licence should be shared with the BBC World Service without delay and that the forthcoming consultation on the BBC World Service's Operating Licence should take place as early as possible—ideally before the summer—and should be on the basis of a published draft.

It's not just an Operating Licence that should be published - a long-term financial strategy that ring fences some funds needs to be set out. Will the World Service get "hypothecated" money from advertising on BBC.com or BBC World - or will it have to fight for a share of a bigger pot ?