BBC: Royal Charter

Viscount Colville of Culross Excerpts

Tuesday 19th July 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ashton of Hyde]

My Lords, I am happy to say that debates will take place in all the devolved Assemblies before the debates in this House and the other place.

[Viscount Colville of Culross (CB)]

My Lords, I declare an interest as a BBC producer. In the White Paper, the Government asked the BBC to put all non-news programming out to competitive tender. At the same time, BBC programme-making has been hived off to become an independent commercial entity. Will the Minister tell the House whether the Government intend the BBC, outside news, to become a broadcast publisher on the lines of Channel 4?

[Lord Ashton of Hyde]

My Lords, I am afraid I am not going to pre-empt what is in the draft charter. The noble Viscount will see what is in the draft charter and framework agreement, but I feel sure that he will be reassured.