All 1 Robert Buckland contributions to the Media Act 2024

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Tue 21st Nov 2023

Media Bill

Robert Buckland Excerpts
2nd reading
Tuesday 21st November 2023

(11 months, 2 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lucy Frazer Portrait Lucy Frazer
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Absolutely. My right hon. Friend makes an excellent point, because this Bill is all about protecting our public service broadcasters, whether that is the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 or S4C, and I am proud to be bringing it forward.

Robert Buckland Portrait Sir Robert Buckland (South Swindon) (Con)
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On the point about public service broadcasting, does my right hon. and learned Friend recognise the growing importance of local television and how the Bill could be improved by making sure that local television coverage is dealt with as a public service broadcaster? It is getting as important as local radio stations such as Swindon 105.5 in my constituency—

Robert Buckland Portrait Sir Robert Buckland
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Swindon 105.5—I recommend you all listen to it, and BBC Wiltshire, of course. It is important that we recognise local television as a public service broadcaster, and an amendment could be made to the Bill in that regard.

Lucy Frazer Portrait Lucy Frazer
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I am always happy to discuss matters with my right hon. and learned Friend. This provision will help to protect radio more broadly through the smart speaker provision and there are other measures on protecting. The Government understand the issue of online local news, which is very important, and Ofcom has concluded proposals in relation to its role, but there are always matters we can look at further.