Written Statements

Tuesday 29th April 2025 Written Statements

Tuesday 29 April 2025

BBC's Workplace Culture: Independent Review

Tuesday 29th April 2025 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)]

On Monday the BBC published the outcome of the independent review it commissioned from Change Associates into workplace culture. The review concluded that the BBC does not have a toxic culture. While the review observed that the majority of people working at the BBC enjoy their work and uphold its values, it also said there are still examples of workplace misconduct by a minority, with damaging impacts for the whole BBC. Despite progress having been made in recent years, there remain significant challenges in relation to workplace misconduct that the BBC must address in order to build the trust of those working for the BBC, and the wider public.

The success of the BBC and the wider creative industries depends on the people that work in them—those who drive and shape all of its content and the services it delivers. Safety for all those working in the creative industries, as in any workplace, is of the utmost importance, and this Government consider it a moral imperative for employers to get this right.

BBC staff and the public rightly deserve the highest standards from their national broadcaster. As the report shows, there have been too many examples of a culture of silence in the BBC, with staff feeling unable to raise concerns or reporting that complaints are not dealt with quickly, effectively, or with the necessary transparency and communication about the process. This cannot continue.

Last Friday, I met with the BBC director general to discuss the findings of the review and stressed the importance of the BBC leadership taking action to address the findings at pace. The director general agreed. As the report also highlights, in order for staff and the public to have confidence in the BBC, transparency on BBC processes and progress is critical. I have also asked the BBC to share further information on how it will report on its progress.

The Government welcome that the BBC has publicly accepted the findings and recommendations of the report in full and has set out an action plan to address them with both immediate steps and further measures aimed at driving the long-term change that is clearly needed. Given its central role in the sector, this is now an opportunity for the BBC to show clear leadership and accountability in this area by learning from the findings, acting at pace across the corporation and working to drive change more broadly throughout the creative industries.

Of course workplace misconduct is not confined to the BBC; it is unfortunately an issue that is too prevalent across the sector, and due to the complexity of the creative labour market is not something the BBC can tackle alone. I recently met with the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority to discuss how the Government and industry can work together to improve workplace standards and behaviour in the creative industries. CIISA was established by the industry to create consistently safe and inclusive workplaces, and the Government believe that this is the best vehicle to address these issues. In order for CIISA to succeed, it needs proper buy-in, support and championing from across the sector. The Government are prepared to challenge the sector if this is not forthcoming.

The Government now look to the BBC to act on the recommendations of the workplace culture review in a focused, timely and transparent way. Together with and on behalf of licence fee payers and the wider public, the Government will closely monitor the BBC’s progress. We will also continue to work closely with CIISA and other relevant Government Departments to explore how best to ensure that the issues we have seen are not allowed to be repeated in future.

[HCWS609]

Service Complaints Ombudsman: 2024 Annual Report

Tuesday 29th April 2025 Written Statements

[The Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns)]

I am pleased to lay before Parliament today the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces annual report for 2024, on the fairness, effectiveness and efficiency of the service complaints system.

This report is published by Mariette Hughes and covers the operation of the service complaints system and the work of her office in her fourth year as the ombudsman.

The findings of the report will now be considered fully by the Ministry of Defence, and a formal response to the ombudsman will follow once that work is complete.

The Government commitment to supporting members of the armed forces to come forward to raise complaints, and to improve the way they are dealt with, is unwavering. That is why the Government are establishing the new independent armed forces commissioner, who will have the power to investigate any issues raised directly by serving personnel and their families.

[HCWS610]

NHS Prescription Charges

Tuesday 29th April 2025 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)]

The Prime Minister, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Keir Starmer), has announced that NHS prescription charges in England will be frozen for the first time in three years. This builds on wider Government action as part of the plan for change to tackle the cost of living crisis, and will save patients around £18 million in 2025-26.

The single charge for prescriptions in England will remain at £9.90. The cost of prescription prepayment certificates will also remain the same, with three-month PPCs staying at £32.05,12-month PPCs at £114.50, and the hormone replacement therapy PPC staying at £19.80.

The charges freeze will also apply to NHS wigs and fabric supports; these prices will remain at current levels:

Surgical brassiere £32.50

Abdominal or spinal support £49.05

Stock modacrylic wig £80.15

Partial human hair wig £212.35

Full bespoke human hair wig £310.55

Around 89% of prescription items in England are already dispensed free of charge to children, over-60s, pregnant women, and those with certain medical conditions. This freeze will not impact current exemptions. All working-age adults who would normally pay for their prescriptions, which is estimated to be around 40% of the population, could benefit from the freeze.

In addition to the freeze on charges, the NHS low income scheme offers help with prescription payments; there are free prescriptions for eligible people in certain groups, such as pensioners, students, and those who receive state benefits or live in care homes.

The prescription charge freeze builds on wider government action to tackle the cost of living, including the roll-out of free breakfast clubs, expanded childcare through 300 new school-based nurseries, lowering the cost of school uniforms, and extending the fuel duty freeze—all aimed at easing financial pressures on families across the country.

This announcement also follows news last month of the Government agreeing funding with Community Pharmacy England worth an extra £617 million over two years. The investment comes alongside reforms to deliver a raft of patient benefits, as part of the Government’s agenda to shift the focus of care from hospitals into the community, so that people can more easily access care and support on their high streets.

Alongside action to rebuild the NHS, the Government’s plan for change is focused on growing the economy to improve living standards across the country. The charges freeze will help contribute to this.

[HCWS611]