Media Green Paper

Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top Excerpts

Monday 29th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The Government are fully behind the BBC, both at the present time and as a future source of trusted news and content. Through the charter review process, a lot of these conversations are happening and we are looking in particular at how we can ensure that the funding model is sustainable while being fair and affordable for households. We are clear that,, if we can get sustainable funding and make sure that we get the prominence regime on the internet as well as on television screens, then we should go a long way to ensuring a strong future for our press and media. I would probably draw back a little from saying Rome is burning. There is so much good practice out there that we should celebrate, but I appreciate that we need to see the warning signs of what might come down the road, which is where the paper comes from.

[Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Lab)]

My Lords, the Green Paper is really welcome. If this is got right, then digital switchover will mean many more people in this country will get sufficient media and digital understanding to be able to use what they need to improve their lives, so this is much bigger than many people have been thinking. I welcome that and hope that the department will fully involve those who are really concerned about digital inclusion in the consultation so that we get it right for everyone.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The intention is to make sure we get it right for everyone. If people have not read the Green Paper, it is worth the read; I thought it was a really interesting document. A striking point made in the paper is about information being part of public infrastructure, and recognising that is critical. In terms of the switchover from digital terrestrial television to the internet provision, there is a question about whether that should be in 2034 or in the decade afterwords. It is not just critical for people and their news; it is also about how people get jobs and apply for pretty much anything. The world is now online, and we need to do what we can to make sure we listen to those people as part of this process.