Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stuart Bell and Andrew Turner

Monday 26th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) (Con)]

4. If the House of Commons Commission will bring forward proposals to reduce parliamentary recording unit charges for small independent broadcasters.

[Sir Stuart Bell (Middlesbrough)]

We have already taken action. In anticipating new licensing arrangements due to come into effect in August 2011, we have decided to stop charging copyright licence fees to broadcasters for the material that we hold.

[Mr Turner]

It sounds as if I must be very grateful for that. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will now give me further information.

[Sir Stuart Bell]

I am aware that the hon. Gentleman has had discussions with the parliamentary recording unit. He has been very diligent, and I congratulate him on that. As he knows, the principles and level of charges were originally set out in 1993 by what was then the Select Committee on Broadcasting and have thereafter been reviewed at official level. The technical duplication charges, to which the hon. Gentleman did not refer but which I know he understands, will be reviewed during the business planning for the new broadcasting arrangements that will be introduced in August 2011.