Channel 4: Funding and Governance

Lord Singh of Wimbledon Excerpts
Thursday 1st July 2021

(2 years, 10 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
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I agree with my noble friend that locally relevant television and, in particular, local news is a very important part of the UK’s public service broadcasting, which has been highlighted by the pandemic. These are issues which will form part of our strategic review of PSBs.

Lord Singh of Wimbledon Portrait Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)
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Can the Minister inform the House on whether BBC editorial policy trumps the law of the land regarding the legal rights of presenters and contributors? If so, should there not be safeguards in governance against the danger of individual producer prejudices being portrayed as BBC policy?

Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
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It is clear that BBC editorial policy does not trump the law of the land. The noble Lord will be aware that the BBC is undertaking a review of its editorial policy, which will report later this year.