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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions, if any, they have had with the BBC since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic about their obligations under the Royal Charter for the continuance of the British Broadcasting Corporation, presented to Parliament in December 2016, “to provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them”.

The government meets with the BBC on regular occasions to discuss a wide range of issues. When speaking to Tim Davie to congratulate him on his appointment as the new Director General of the BBC, the Secretary of State welcomed Tim Davie’s commitment to impartiality at the BBC. In an age of fake news and self reinforcing algorithms, the need for genuine impartiality is greater than ever.

In April the BBC announced a wide-ranging package of measures to help keep the nation informed, educated, and entertained through these unprecedented times. These new measures included daily and weekly coronavirus updates, supplied across television, radio and online platforms.

The BBC is operationally and editorially independent of government, and it is for the BBC Board to ensure that all of the BBC’s output meets the highest standards the public expects. Ofcom is the independent regulator of the BBC, and is responsible for holding the BBC to account in this regard.