BBC: Licence Fee

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch Excerpts

Monday 7th November 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rawlings]

The noble Earl, Lord Clancarty, asks a very valid question. We are worried about the transfer. It worked with television but we are not sure yet what is going to happen with radio. However, the licence fee settlement stated that the BBC will commit to funding the rollout of the national DAB multiplexes. We trust and hope that this will work out properly.

[Baroness Jones of Whitchurch]

My Lords, notwithstanding the BBC’s settlement, can the Minister clarify whether it is the Government’s intention to revisit the licence fee to take account of developing technologies in the forthcoming communications Bill?

[Baroness Rawlings]

The noble Baroness, Lady Jones, brings up a good point. The current BBC charter expires on 31 December 2016. The timing and scope of the next charter review are a matter for Ministers, but no decision has yet been taken. The last charter review began three years before the expiry of the previous charter, and the subject will no doubt be brought up during the meetings on the draft communications Bill.