Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jeremy Hunt and Alun Michael

Thursday 9th February 2012 Commons Chamber

[Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op)]

11. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of new financing arrangements on the editorial and operational independence of S4C.

[The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Jeremy Hunt)]

I agree with the assessment of the new independent chairman of S4C that financial and governance arrangements agreed between the BBC and S4C will

“safeguard the Welsh language services provided by S4C for the foreseeable future”

and

“allow S4C to maintain its editorial and managerial independence.”

[Alun Michael]

I thank the Secretary of State for that reply, but why have he and the BBC explicitly ruled out operational independence? The cut in grant is 24% over four years, but the cut against anticipated income is some 32%, which is really challenging. Is it not important for S4C to be able to manage its own business and have operational independence?

[Mr Hunt]

We do want S4C to learn from what the BBC does as a much larger broadcaster—it is one of the most successful public service broadcasters in the world, if not the most successful—in how it runs its operations, because S4C has been through a very difficult period. The most important thing is editorial independence, so that there is a choice of Welsh language services and plurality of news provision in Wales. I point out to the right hon. Gentleman that the new agreement between the BBC and S4C is supported not just by peers from his party but also by Plaid Cymru in the other place.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jeremy Hunt and Alun Michael

Thursday 16th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op)]

14. What plans he has for future (a) funding and (b) parliamentary oversight of the work of the BBC World Service from 2014.

[The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Jeremy Hunt)]

We have protected funding for the World Service with an efficiency saving, and accountability to Parliament will continue through the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs.

[Alun Michael]

Does the Secretary of State agree that Britain’s place in the world, and its contribution to the world, are enhanced considerably by the work of the BBC World Service? I have seen that in relation to Somaliland and in eastern Europe. Does he share the widespread concern that is felt about the fragility of the service worldwide, and what can he do to satisfy us that Parliament will be fully involved and that the service is safe in his hands?

[Mr Hunt]

I entirely share the right hon. Gentleman’s support for the BBC World Service, which is an incredible jewel in our national crown and a very important part of our soft power. The moving of the service directly into the core BBC presents it with tremendous opportunities. It will strengthen the service’s independence and perceived independence, allow efficiency savings that will ultimately enable more to be invested in programming, and create the potential for improvements in the television service, BBC World News, which I think are long overdue.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jeremy Hunt and Alun Michael

Monday 25th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

I am happy to answer that question. As part of the licence fee negotiation that we concluded, the BBC has committed to put £150 million into broadband roll-out for every year of the new BBC licence fee settlement. That is how we shall get the nearly £1 billion of secured investment for the broadband roll-out, and I hope it will benefit my hon. Friend’s and everyone else’s constituency.

[Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op)]

T8. How do Ministers intend to ensure that blind and partially sighted people, for whom radio is a vital lifeline, will not be disadvantaged if commercial pressures mount to switch from analogue to digital radio?