A Spending Review (SR) or sometimes a Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) is a UK governmental process spearheaded by HM Treasury which sets firm three-year departmental public expenditure limits. Through public service agreements, the CSR defines the key improvements that the public can expect from the resources allocated to health, education, defence, welfare etc.

Unlike the rest of the BBC, which is largely funded by the Licence Fee, World Service is publicly funded out of a grant in Aid from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth office (The FCO).

Spending Reviews typically focus upon one or several aspects of public spending while Comprehensive Spending Reviews focus upon each government department's spending requirements from a zero base (i.e. without reference to past plans or, initially, current expenditure).

The World Service Spending Review bid is a strategic document prepared by World Service and endorsed by the BBC. It sets out World Service priorities for the next three years and beyond and how these priorities might be funded – including efficiency savings. The World Service bid is included in a broader bid made by the Foreign Office. 

There have been two CSR's (1998 and 2007) and three SRs (2000, 2002 and 2004).