Television Licences Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara
Main Page: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Stevenson of Balmacara's debates with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
(3 years, 11 months ago)
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Baroness Barran
The noble Baroness has raised an important point, which I will share with colleagues in the department.
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Lab) [V]
My Lords, the BBC is not solely responsible for the cuts that it is now having to make. This was a budget cut imposed on it by the then Chancellor in a crude attempt to evade the Government’s statutory responsibility for welfare policy. One of the proposals that was rejected by the Government during the passage of what became the Digital Economy Act was for an independent assessment to be made of the BBC’s funding needs in order to deliver its charter responsibilities. Will the Government look at this fair and equitable policy during the next licence fee round?
Baroness Barran
The noble Lord is critical of the last settlement, but I would remind him that the BBC itself regarded it as a good deal.