BBC Leadership
Baroness Caine of Kentish Town Excerpts(1 day, 6 hours ago)
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Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I probably need to declare an interest as somebody who, as a child, watched the noble Baroness on the BBC. I have huge respect for her work and for the work of the children’s BBC, but also for the noble Baroness’s campaigning to make sure that children and young people get access to high-quality, accurate content. I know that the noble Baroness has spoken to the Secretary of State about this, but I am happy to follow up with a conversation on this point.
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)
We will hear from the Labour Benches next, then the Cross Benches.
Baroness Caine of Kentish Town (Lab)
My Lords, as other noble Lords have noted, we must never shy away from discussing and addressing the BBC’s challenges and shortcomings. Charter renewal will be an important milestone in the history of a cherished national institution, and I trust that my noble friend and her ministerial colleagues will ensure steps are taken to strengthen public confidence in the leadership, accountability and performance of the corporation at every level. However, can my noble friend confirm that the Government remain—I think she has already said it, but we like to hear it repeated—fully committed to our main national public service broadcaster, which does so much so very well to inform, educate and entertain? Does she agree that a strong BBC will be central to efforts to tackle misinformation and disinformation nationally and internationally?
Newspapers: Foreign Ownership
Baroness Caine of Kentish Town Excerpts(3 months, 4 weeks ago)
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Baroness Twycross (Lab)
On the regulations and the exception, I want to be clear: this is a privilege, not a right. It is about passive investment, which is why the level has been set at 15%. The Government have published the second set of regulations today, to put it beyond doubt that multiple states cannot act in concert to take a stake in a UK newspaper that is bigger than 15%. The FSI regime gives the Secretary of State a specific duty to intervene and to refer to the CMA for investigation merger cases that she suspects may have resulted, or may result, in foreign state control or influence over a newspaper enterprise’s policy. So these safeguards are in addition to what we would already consider to be quite clear duties on the part of the Secretary of State.
Baroness Caine of Kentish Town (Lab)
My Lords, we have all experienced the closure of local newspapers and radio stations—a worrying loss to local identity and politics—with those that remain generally having sought a future by being subsumed into a larger group. Does my noble friend the Minister agree that, although foreign investment is not entirely free of risk and should not be seen as a quick fix, unless these foreign companies invest in the future of outlets we all care about, those outlets will continue to lack the certainty and security they seek?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
Media organisations desperately need investment to secure their modernisation and their future. It is really important that these historic or local titles, which we all value, are not something of the past but something of the future. Supporting the provision of high-quality, public-interest journalism is a priority for this Government; we need serious investment in order to support this sector to thrive and to meet the challenges of the future.