The BBC Funding Review will look at how alternative models could help secure the broadcaster\u2019s long-term sustainability amid an evolving media landscape, increased competition and changing audience behaviour, while reducing the burden on licence fee payers.<\/p>
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\u2019s funding model be changed for the next Charter period.<\/p>
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.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/39", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Maldon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sir John Whittingdale"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-12-13T14:35:20.573Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "217"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-12-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "BBC: Finance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "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.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3973", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grahame Morris"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Easington"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Grahame Morris"} ], "uin" : "5823"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1666495", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture, Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1666495/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are working to support journalism and local newsrooms to ensure the sustainability of this vital industry.<\/p>
This includes our new digital markets regime, which will help rebalance the relationship between online platforms and those who rely on them \u2013 including local press publishers.<\/p>
Additionally, our support for the sector has included the delivery of the £2 million Future News Fund; the zero rating of VAT on e-newspapers; the extension of a 2017 business rates relief on local newspaper office space until 2025; the publication of the Online Media Literacy Strategy; and the BBC also supports the sector directly, through the £8m it spends each year on the Local News Partnership, including the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/39", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Maldon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sir John Whittingdale"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-10-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-10-26T08:05:48.35Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "217"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Press: Sustainable Development"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the number of journalists on the sustainability of local media reporting.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3973", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grahame Morris"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Easington"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Grahame Morris"} ], "uin" : "203808"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1644169", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture, Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1644169/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government remains disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local output. Ministers have met with the BBC on several occasions since the announcement where they have expressed the concerns shared across the House about the BBC\u2019s plans.<\/p>
While it is up to the BBC to decide how it delivers its services, the Government has been clear with the Chair of the BBC Board and the Director General that the BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK. These services are a key part of the BBC\u2019s public service remit and an example of how the BBC can use its licence fee funding to provide content that is directly relevant to audiences, particularly in areas that may be underserved by the market.<\/p>
The BBC is editorially and operationally independent, and the decision over whether to proceed with, and consider the potential impacts for audiences of these changes under their public sector equality duty, is for them.<\/p>
The Government also expects Ofcom, as regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. As part of this, the BBC will be required to monitor the impact of changes on audiences and publish more information about how it delivers high quality, distinctive content and services for audiences across the UK.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/39", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Maldon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sir John Whittingdale"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-06-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "189227"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-06-19T08:56:57.76Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "217"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "BBC: Local Broadcasting"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has held with (a) BBC management and (b) Ofcom on conducting equality impact assessments on changes to BBC local radio coverage for (i) elderly, (ii) disabled and (iii) black and minority ethnic people.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3973", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grahame Morris"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Easington"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Grahame Morris"} ], "uin" : "189226"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1644170", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture, Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1644170/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government remains disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local output. Ministers have met with the BBC on several occasions since the announcement where they have expressed the concerns shared across the House about the BBC\u2019s plans.<\/p>
While it is up to the BBC to decide how it delivers its services, the Government has been clear with the Chair of the BBC Board and the Director General that the BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK. These services are a key part of the BBC\u2019s public service remit and an example of how the BBC can use its licence fee funding to provide content that is directly relevant to audiences, particularly in areas that may be underserved by the market.<\/p>
The BBC is editorially and operationally independent, and the decision over whether to proceed with, and consider the potential impacts for audiences of these changes under their public sector equality duty, is for them.<\/p>
The Government also expects Ofcom, as regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. As part of this, the BBC will be required to monitor the impact of changes on audiences and publish more information about how it delivers high quality, distinctive content and services for audiences across the UK.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/39", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Maldon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sir John Whittingdale"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-06-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "189226"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-06-19T08:56:57.803Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "217"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "BBC: Local Broadcasting"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to BBC local radio coverage on (i) elderly, (ii) disabled and (iii) black and minority ethnic people.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3973", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grahame Morris"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Easington"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Grahame Morris"} ], "uin" : "189227"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/746929", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture, Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/746929/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK has made considerable progress so far in extending ultrafast broadband through full fibre and other connectivity technologies. According to thinkbroadband, over 52% of the UK has access to ultrafast speeds of 100 Megabits per second or more.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government\u2019s aim is to provide ultrafast connectivity to as many businesses and homes as possible. We will achieve this by developing approaches to show how new investment from government and the private sector could transform the UK\u2019s full fibre availability. We have set in train our investment plans for extending full fibre, investing £200m to fund locally-led projects across the UK to leverage local and commercial investment in full fibre, beginning the first wave of projects in 2017.<\/p>
<\/p>