Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Leslie Excerpts

Monday 26th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vaizey]

That is not a matter for the National Audit Office, which examines how the BBC spends its money, but for the BBC and the BBC Trust.

[Chris Leslie (Nottingham East) (Lab/Co-op)]

Is there any real justification for not opening up the BBC accounts to the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee, especially given that one of the Secretary of State’s reasons for cutting the licence fee was deficit reduction? I am not sure whether the BBC accounts would rack up against the public finances in quite that way.

[Mr Vaizey]

Forgive me, Mr Speaker, but I am not quite sure what point the hon. Gentleman is making. It is a coalition Government commitment that the National Audit Office should have full access to the BBC’s accounts by November 2011 in order to ensure value for money and public accountability.