Media: S4C
Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Roberts of Conwy
Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, I can confirm that the BBC will not have a majority on either the S4C board or the S4C executive, and the relationship between S4C and the BBC will be on the basis of a partnership and not of a BBC subsidiary. The partnership will start, as the noble Lord knows, from April 2013. I know how important this is to several noble Lords.
Lord Roberts of Conwy
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the BBC appears to have been flexing its financial muscle in these recent negotiations? It is of course seeking to exercise domination over the governance of S4C, which might end up with a BBC satellite service as opposed to the independent service that we all want and have agreed upon. Will the same kind of behaviour on the part of the BBC be allowed to happen to the local television stations that are also to be financed from licence fee sources?
Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, I understand my noble friend Lord Roberts’ concern about S4C, as he was its original founder, but I should like to reassure him that the amended BBC agreement which has been laid in Parliament states that there will be new governance arrangements. This will happen only when they have been agreed by S4C, the BBC and DCMS. Naturally, there will be a balance and it will not be dominated by the BBC.
Media: Ownership
Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Roberts of Conwy
Baroness Rawlings
It is no longer on the danger list; it has been removed. It is in Schedule 5 and will be removed from Schedule 7.
Lord Roberts of Conwy
My Lords, in view of yesterday’s peaceful protest by the students, which, as I understand it, was hijacked by an anarchical and violent element, leading to police injuries and damage to property, can the broadcast media be reminded that they should take the utmost care to ensure that they are not open to the charge of encouraging further violence by their comments or in any way whatever?
Baroness Rawlings
My noble friend Lord Roberts is absolutely right and I could not agree with him more, but it is the Government’s position not to interfere with any of the media, including television.
Broadcasting: S4C
Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Roberts of Conwy
Baroness Rawlings
I agree with the noble Lord that it is unique. That is important and it is why the Government have stressed that S4C should continue to be properly funded. A new governance structure will be required to deliver the partnership with the BBC. The BBC Trust and the S4C Authority will need to agree jointly the strategic goals and broad editorial requirements and hold S4C to account for their delivery. This structure will be up and running by 2012-13.
Lord Roberts of Conwy
My Lords, can the Minister confirm that the agreement which her department concluded with the BBC over the part-funding of S4C ensures the continued independence of S4C within the partnership as regards commissioning programmes from independent producers and raising revenue from advertising? Can she further confirm that legislation will be needed to effect the change in S4C funding, which is currently subject to statute?
Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, my noble friend Lord Roberts of Conwy is of course right, and he naturally feels strongly about S4C because, after all, he started it. I can assure him that S4C will remain a unique entity and retain its editorial independence under the partnership. The intention is that the Public Bodies Bill will effect the change in S4C’s funding by breaking the current automatic funding link with the RPI. He is also right to say that it is important that the programmes for the channel are 100 per cent independent.