BBC: Independence

Lord Foster of Bath Excerpts

Monday 6th June 2016 Lords Chamber

[The Earl of Courtown]

My Lords, I thank my noble friend. I am sure that my colleagues in the department will take careful note of the one-term issue. I should add that the appointment process for the board members will follow OCPA guidance and public sector best practice.

[Lord Foster of Bath (LD)]

My Lords, the Secretary of State intends to issue guidance to ensure that BBC services are clearly differentiated from the rest of the market. Many feel that this could curtail the BBC’s creative freedom to make popular programmes. Will the government-appointed members of the new board be free to ignore that guidance and thus retain the BBC’s editorial independence?

[The Earl of Courtown]

My Lords, I think the noble Lord refers to the distinctiveness issue that is in the BBC’s new mission. I draw the attention of the House to the mission:

“To act in the public interest, serving all audiences with impartial, high-quality and distinctive media content and services that inform, educate and entertain”.

The noble Lord mentioned another point towards the end of his question to which I do not have the answer. I will write to him.