BBC Royal Charter

Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury Excerpts

Thursday 4th June 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Pearson of Rannoch (UKIP)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (LD)]

My Lords—

[Lord Morris of Aberavon (Lab)]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe]

My Lords, I have not seen the News-watch website that was referred to, but I will obviously take the opportunity to look at it as part of my induction into this vital area. All aspects of the kind that the noble Lord describes will be looked at in the review. As I said, I think that the comments from this House will be very helpful to us in coming to the right conclusions.

[Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury]

My Lords, does the Minister not agree that a BBC funded by the licence fee is essential in a changing world as a safeguard for British creativity? The creative industries are the fastest growing sector of the UK economy and a crucial part of our continued prosperity and the economic recovery.

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe]

My Lords, I very much agree with the noble Baroness’s point about the power and importance of the creative industries, and of course the BBC plays a huge part in that, not least around the world because of the respect that it is accorded.