Gavin Newlands
Main Page: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)Department Debates - View all Gavin Newlands's debates with the Attorney General
(7 years ago)
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Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)
4. Whether she plans to bring forward proposals to change the BBC licence fee.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Karen Bradley)
The Government will maintain the licence fee funding model for the BBC for the duration of the new 11-year charter period.
Gavin Newlands
We welcome the additional £30 million investment for the digital BBC Scotland channel, but even this funding does not come close to the £320 million raised in Scotland. The new channel aside, how can the Secretary of State, along with BBC, seriously say that Scotland gets its fair share? Is not now the time to ensure that Scotland can properly invest in our sector and talent to make more programmes such as “The Town That Thread Built”, further highlighting why Paisley should be UK City of Culture 2021?
Karen Bradley
I met the director-general and chair of the BBC on Monday and discussed this very matter with them—ensuring that the BBC does contribute to nations and regions appropriately. The hon. Gentleman will know that the new BBC board, which has a non-executive director from each of the home nations, is incorporated such that it can ensure that those voices are properly heard.