Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to formally consult (a) BBC trade union representatives and (b) the wider public on the review of the BBC funding model.

The BBC Funding Review will look at how alternative models could help secure the broadcaster’s long-term sustainability amid an evolving media landscape, increased competition and changing audience behaviour, while reducing the burden on licence fee payers.

We will not be running a public consultation as part of this review, as a formal public consultation will be launched as part of Charter Review itself. Charter Review is the right time for decisions on funding to be made, as only through amending the Charter and associated legislation can the BBC’s funding model be changed for the next Charter period.

As part of the review, we will appoint an expert panel that incorporates a broad range of views from across the sector to support the Government throughout the review. Its role will be to provide advice and external challenge.