BBC: Impartiality

Baroness Twycross Excerpts

Thursday 28th November 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Deech]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the BBC’s measurement of its duty to deliver due impartiality as required by its Charter, and of how impartiality is addressed by its complaints system.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Twycross) (Lab)]

My Lords, it is for Ofcom, the BBC’s independent regulator, to hold the BBC to account on its duty to deliver impartial news content under its royal charter. The Government must set the right framework for the BBC to operate in; however, editorial decisions are, rightly, not something that the Government interfere with. The BBC is hugely important to public life and must be responsive to its audience—the British people—including through its handling of complaints.

[Baroness Deech (CB)]

My Lords, the BBC’s impartiality and accuracy in its coverage of the Israel-Gaza war have been thoroughly documented and found to be failing by the Asserson and Danny Cohen reports. To say that the audience trusts the BBC is no substitute for measuring impartiality. BBC Arabic reporters have been found to be supporting terror and to be anti-Semitic. Among the most egregious failings was Jeremy Bowen jumping to the conclusion that Israel had bombed the al-Ahli Hospital on 17 October last year, when it turned out to be an Islamic Jihad misfired rocket, and never apologising for this report, which caused great reputational damage. Today, a union has urged BBC staff to wear a keffiyeh or the Palestinian flag colours, while the BBC remains silent in this flaunting of impartiality. Will the Minister demand that the BBC set up an inquiry into the BBC Arabic service and, in the next charter review, call for an external ombudsman to settle BBC complaints, which, as we all know, are handled slowly and by the BBC marking its own homework? With all due respect to Ofcom—

[Noble Lords]

Oh!

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The BBC, as I said in my initial Answer, has a duty to provide accurate and impartial news and information. I am sure all noble Lords would agree that that is particularly important when it comes to coverage of highly sensitive issues, such as the conflict in Gaza. The BBC is editorially and operationally independent and, therefore, decisions on its editorial line are for it to take. Of course, the BBC has upheld complaints against its own coverage of the Middle East, including for falling below standards of accuracy in its reporting. It is then for Ofcom, the independent regulator, to ensure that the BBC is fulfilling its obligation to audiences as outlined in the charter.

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston (Con)]

My Lords, I highlight for the Minister, and indeed the whole House, a report called The Future of News, published by the Communications and Digital Select Committee of your Lordships’ House earlier this week. In that report, our inquiry found a growing risk of a two-tier media environment influenced by a combination of technological change and a growing number of people turning away from news because of a lack of trust. The question of audience trust is a matter for the media, including the BBC, but our report has some clear recommendations for the Government. Will the Minister please assure me that she will look at this report and give our recommendations serious consideration, particularly those that we highlight on competition issues, copyright and SLAPPs?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I look forward to reading the report that the noble Baroness refers to. The Government recognise that society’s shift online presents new challenges and opportunities to news media as well as to the provision of trustworthy information. That involves the issues around trust, which the noble Baroness referred to. I will ensure that there is a response to the report and look forward to debating it when it comes before your Lordships’ House.

[Lord Fowler (CB)]

My Lords, I do not agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Deech. The most important people in any news organisation, surely, are not the armchair correspondents, commentators or, for that matter, critics but the reporters. Is it not a fact that the BBC has a reputation around the world for the accuracy of its reporting? Surely our concern should be not the BBC but the overseas Governments who exclude outside reporters from what is happening on the ground in their countries.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I agree that the BBC has a very positive reputation overseas. The correct handling of complaints is part of that reputation and sustains it. It is a really important part of our soft diplomacy, which is why the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, announced yesterday that the Government will provide the BBC World Service with a funding uplift of £32.6 million in 2025-26.

[Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (LD)]

My Lords, does the Minister not agree that as all political parties, including my own, complain about the BBC, it must be doing something right and is demonstrating impartiality? There are clear processes through Ofcom, as she said, for those who wish to complain. Is she satisfied that Ofcom is carrying out its statutory obligations on impartiality with regard to GB News?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I agree with the noble Baroness’s first point; everyone across your Lordships’ House will get frustrated at some point, which is probably a sign that the BBC is on the right track. On news and current affairs, as the Question suggests, all broadcasters have a responsibility to be duly accurate and impartial. It is for Ofcom, as the regulator, to ensure compliance. We believe it takes that responsibility seriously.

[The Earl of Effingham (Con)]

My Lords, we live in a world where social media has a huge impact on public discourse. Can the Minister explain how the Government will monitor the activity of all BBC employees on social media and ensure that it does not undermine the perception of the BBC’s required impartiality?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I assume that, like all organisations in the public sector, the BBC will have internal processes to monitor this, and a social media policy.

[Baroness Keeley (Lab)]

My Lords, the BBC does incredible work at home and abroad but it has finite resources and, let us face it, is often under attack from politicians and other media outlets. Can my noble friend the Minister confirm that, unlike successive previous Administrations, which have too often sought to undermine the BBC and its public service role, this Government will act in a way that recognises the BBC’s key role in informing the public on complex issues and its great value to the creative industries?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I welcome my noble friend’s view on the BBC, which closely aligns with that of the Government. The BBC matters hugely to our public life and this Government are committed to supporting it so that it can succeed well into the future. In doing so, we will ensure that it is responsive to the public and able to tell inclusive stories about the lives of all people in all parts of the UK.

[Viscount Colville of Culross (CB)]

My Lords, in the Media Act the last Government dropped the requirement for public service broadcasters to broadcast some programmes about science, cultural matters, social issues and matters of international significance. Does the Minister think this should be rectified?

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The Government are still considering the mid-term review recommendations that require updates to the BBC framework agreement and decisions will be made in due course. I am happy to write to the noble Viscount on the specific points he raised.

[Lord Robathan (Con)]

My Lords, at George Alagiah’s memorial service, in his excellent address Tim Davie said that George was the best of the best because he gave the facts of the news rather than his opinions about it. That was a fairly barbed comment. When will people like me who do not want to subsidise the opinions of commentators be allowed to stop paying the licence fee?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The Secretary of State and the Prime Minister have committed to the licence fee for the remainder of the current charter period, until 2027. Ahead of the charter review, the Government will keep an open mind about the future of the licence fee and engage with the BBC, the public and other stakeholders before making decisions, but I am afraid that the noble Lord is not currently exempt from it.

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, before we move on to the next Question, I remind the House—as I find myself having to do quite a lot—that we are in Question Time and expect questions from noble Lords and prompt answers from Ministers. It is Question Time, not “speech time”.