Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Burns Excerpts
Thursday 22nd October 2015

(9 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Whittingdale Portrait Mr Whittingdale
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As the right hon. Gentleman might be aware, the Government are conducting a review of secondary ticketing and have recently appointed a chairman to undertake it. We will obviously look carefully at its findings when it reports.

Simon Burns Portrait Sir Simon Burns (Chelmsford) (Con)
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T2. Will my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State assure me that during the current consultations on the BBC charter the vital role of local radio, particularly stations such as BBC Essex, will not be overlooked in a modernised BBC?

John Whittingdale Portrait Mr Whittingdale
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I share my right hon. Friend’s admiration for BBC local radio, particularly BBC Essex, which does a magnificent job in keeping his and my constituents informed. The BBC does local radio exceptionally well, and it is hard to envisage the commercial sector being willing to provide a similar service. On that basis, I strongly hope that it will continue.