Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Matthew Offord and Lord Vaizey of Didcot(10 years, 11 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con)
T5. As part of the Government’s commitment to preserving our heritage for current and future generations, will Ministers support Bury farm, a unique medieval farm in my constituency, and give it protection from development?
Mr Vaizey
It is very important that this wonderful grade 2 listed farm is protected from development as far as possible, and any development around it should be as sympathetic as possible. English Heritage runs a fantastic heritage protection service in this country, which will only be enhanced by the new model that we have just announced.
BBC (Parliamentary Oversight)
Debate between Matthew Offord and Lord Vaizey of Didcot(11 years, 11 months ago)
Westminster HallRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
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Mr Vaizey
I hear what the hon. Gentleman says about the expertise of the BBC Trust. The way of dodging his point would be to say that that is a matter for the trust. It would not be right for me to interfere or to comment on appointments to the trust. The appointment process is independent and ensures that members of the trust are appointed without political interference. The chairman of the trust is appointed by the Secretary of State and the appointment is approved by the Prime Minister, but the hon. Gentleman should perhaps contact the chairman of the trust to raise his concerns and to explain why he feels that the trust is not doing enough to examine the BBC’s finances.
Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con)
I worked for the BBC for nine years, so I speak from a position of experience. How does the Minister feel the chairman of the BBC Trust regarded MPs when he most recently stood before them in the Culture, Media and Sport Committee?
Mr Vaizey
I was not aware that my hon. Friend had worked for the BBC before entering the House of Commons. Given the qualifications of the BBC’s new director-general, who worked there and then left for an outside organisation, it seems inevitable that my hon. Friend will one day end up as director-general, once Tony Hall has served his term.
In a sense, the element of parliamentary oversight of the BBC—