Future of the BBC

Ian C. Lucas Excerpts

Monday 21st October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Alun Cairns]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for championing the cause of local journalists and local broadcasters. Very often, when decisions are taken by that officer class of executive, local broadcasters and local journalists are the ones who pay the price.

[Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab)]

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

[Alun Cairns]

I am conscious of the time, but I will give way briefly.

[Ian Lucas]

Does not the hon. Gentleman deeply regret, with me, that we have no BBC local radio in Wales? Unfortunately, my area of Wales suffers profoundly from not having the type of support and investigative journalism that is available, for example, from BBC Radio Shropshire?

[Alun Cairns]

I agree, and I underline the point.

I hope the BBC can pursue—