BBC: Licence Fee
Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Roberts of Llandudno
Baroness Rawlings
The noble Lord, Lord Soley, is absolutely right. The BBC World Service is of paramount importance. The October 2010 licence fee settlement transferred funding of the BBC World Service from the Foreign Office to the BBC from 2014-15. The BBC Trust sets out the overall strategic direction of the BBC, including the World Service. The World Service will be funded from the licence fee from 2014. The transfer will increase the BBC's ability to make further economies to avoid duplication across the whole of the BBC.
Lord Roberts of Llandudno
My Lords, I first thank the Minister for the agreement in the funding of S4C to use licence fee revenue. That is a sensible and sensitive response to a battle that we have been fighting for a long time. But what revenue from the licence fee comes from the various nations of the UK? How much comes from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England? Secondly, could we have an assurance that no use of the revenue from the licence fee will in any way prevent the granting of concessionary television licences to those over a certain age?
Baroness Rawlings
My noble friend Lord Roberts asks an important question regarding fees, which obviously come from throughout the United Kingdom. The proposed S4C/BBC partnership arrangements are a success for Welsh language broadcasting. The arrangements make certain that S4C’s editorial and managerial independence will offer a reassuring level of financial security for the next five years. The partnership offers the stability and certainty that S4C needs so that it can go from strength to strength under the management of its new chairman and new chief executive.
Media: S4C
Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Roberts of Llandudno
Baroness Rawlings
The noble and learned Lord is absolutely right on that point, but the Government are not delaying. The officials at DCMS are working with S4C and the BBC Trust on the governance structure of their new partnership. The new chairman has been appointed and the appointment has gone down very well. Mr Heath said in the other place that he hoped that the negotiations will be completed by Report in the other place.
Lord Roberts of Llandudno
Has discussion taken place between the Welsh Assembly Government, DCMS here, S4C and the BBC? It is so important that all sides involved in the fourth channel, the Welsh language channel, are brought into those discussions to ensure that we have no problems whatever of funding or independence in future.
Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, my noble friend makes a very valid point. The Government are fully aware and have set out the funding levels for the period of the spending review, subject to the passage of the Bill, and are committed to making certain that S4C receives sufficient funding for the future. The Government have made clear that that 100 per cent of S4C’s commissioning budget will be spent in the independent sector, as now.
Media: News International
Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Roberts of Llandudno
Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, the Prime Minister has appointed Lord Justice Leveson to lead a wide-ranging inquiry. For part one of that inquiry Lord Leveson will be assisted by a panel of experts. The Prime Minister will make a Statement later this morning and we hope that he will be able to announce then the final terms of reference and the names of those on the panel.
Lord Roberts of Llandudno
I thank the Minister for that response. What steps will Her Majesty’s Government take to make certain that in future not only the Murdoch empire but other media groups behave in a responsible and sensitive manner? Does the Minister agree that the present Press Complaints Commission is not fit for purpose and that, in order to regain public confidence, a new body should be established immediately, not composed entirely of newspaper personnel, but with authority to deal with traditional and new, online media in a very fresh way?
Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, my noble friend Lord Roberts goes right to the heart of the matter and he is right to look into the future. His most important point is on the need to regain the confidence of the public. Clearly, the current regime of the Press Complaints Commission has not been effective. That is why the draft terms of reference for Lord Justice Leveson’s inquiry require recommendation for a new, more effective policy and regulatory regime which supports the integrity and freedom of the press, the plurality of the media and their independence from government, while encouraging the highest ethical and professional standards. The PCC is a self-regulatory, self-appointed, independent body and it is not for the Government to say what will or will not happen to it. That will be a matter for the press and media.
Broadcasting: Product Placement
Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Roberts of Llandudno
Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, the last Government created Ofcom as an independent regulator. As I think I said earlier, as much as we would like to encourage various different programmes and practices, Ofcom is an independent body.
Lord Roberts of Llandudno
My Lords, I am sure that the Minister will agree that the Welsh television channel S4C has an enviable record in the production of children’s programmes. Although the Government have no massive powers in this area, will they encourage the translation of more of those Welsh television programmes into the English language?
Baroness Rawlings
I am sure that the Government would love to be able to do that, and no doubt we can suggest something. I am sure that my noble friend Lord Roberts could write to them to suggest it.
Arts: Local Provision
Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Roberts of Llandudno
Baroness Rawlings
To return to the actual funding, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport feels strongly that individual arts funding decisions must be taken at arm’s length through Arts Council England.
Lord Roberts of Llandudno
My Lords, there is immense talent throughout the United Kingdom. What is being done to encourage the exchange of art collections between Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England? It is not just Arts Council England that is involved in this.
Baroness Rawlings
Decisions in the Welsh Assembly regarding the Arts Council, for example, are devolved. It is a devolved issue and does not come under Arts Council England.
Broadcasting: S4C
Debate between Baroness Rawlings and Lord Roberts of Llandudno
Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assurances they can give that the Welsh language channel S4C will be adequately financed following the proposed new funding arrangement with the BBC.
Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, the Government want to make certain that S4C offers the best possible language service to its audience, and feel that the best way to secure its future while delivering a better service is through partnership with the BBC. From 2013-14, therefore, the cost of S4C will be met from a combination of continued Exchequer funding, advertising revenue and the licence fee.
Lord Roberts of Llandudno
I thank the Minister for that reply. First, do the Government realise how vital S4C—the only Welsh language channel—is to the Welsh people? Secondly, can I have an assurance that by 2015 the service provided in the Welsh language by S4C will not be diminished but will be as secure and comprehensive as it is at present?
Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, my noble friend Lord Roberts and many of your Lordships involved with Wales mind passionately about S4C, and he is right to raise the issue. I hope I can assure my noble friend and the House that its funding is secure for the next four years. This will enable S4C to structure itself for the modern broadcasting environment and, importantly, it will retain its commercial freedom.