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BBC Local Radio: Proposed Reduction in Provision
01 November 2022
Lead MP
Julia Lopez
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
EmploymentCulture, Media & Sport
Other Contributors: 39
At a Glance
Julia Lopez raised concerns about bbc local radio: proposed reduction in provision in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Minister acknowledged the importance of BBC local radio services, celebrating its centenary year. She highlighted that BBC local radio reaches 5.7 million listeners weekly outside London, with stations in Derby, Stoke, Humberside, Cornwall, Devon, and elsewhere having higher reach or share numbers than the average. The Government expressed concerns about proposed cuts to local radio output without prior notice, emphasising the operational independence of the BBC from the Government. However, they are disappointed by the reported extensive cuts planned by the BBC. The Minister noted that during the pandemic, BBC local radio played a vital role in bringing communities together and delivering essential local news. She also stated that the BBC must ensure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local services with content reflecting all corners of the UK. The Government is undertaking a mid-term charter review to assess the market impact and public value of the BBC's services, including commercial radio and local news sectors. The Minister will meet with the BBC next week to discuss these concerns.
Emma Hardy
Lab
Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice
Question
The MP welcomed the minister's comments but expressed concern over BBC local radio plans without consultation. She cited Radio Humberside’s role in connecting communities, particularly during lockdowns, and highlighted the 139 redundancies planned. Emma Hardy questioned whether these changes will damage communities by removing a vital voice.
Minister reply
The Minister thanked Emma Hardy for her comments on Radio Humberside's work and its importance in times of need. She noted that BBC local radio traditionally develops local talent, raising concerns about the loss of expertise. The Minister hoped to have more time to examine these proposals before their release and will be discussing them with the BBC next week.
Question
The MP questioned if the proposed cuts would lead to a loss of local distinctiveness, and whether the commercial sector's approach was being replicated. He also inquired about rumours regarding the media Bill’s potential shelving or delay.
Minister reply
The Minister thanked Julian Knight for his work on local journalism investigations and expressed gratitude for presenting at his committee. She noted concerns about the impact of BBC online investments on competing local news providers. The DCMS is keen to introduce the media Bill as soon as possible, with further details forthcoming.
Barnsley South
Question
Expresses concern about the BBC local radio service changes and asks for details on steps to be taken by the government, the timeline for the media Bill, and assurances that high-quality local news will continue.
Minister reply
Defends the Government's position, highlighting a £3.8 billion annual income from the licence fee guaranteed for five years. Emphasises the need to examine traditional and online means of disseminating information through the upcoming media Bill.
Damian Green
Con
Question
Asks for assurances that BBC local radio will continue to serve communities effectively through both traditional and newer online methods.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the importance of serving digitally less-enabled audiences and commits to raising concerns about striking the right balance between traditional and online means.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham and Chislehurst
Question
Questions the poor relationship between the Government and BBC, given that the Minister was not informed by the BBC ahead of these decisions.
Minister reply
States she has a positive but operationally independent relationship with the BBC. She commits to having an open and honest discussion about proposals during her meeting with the BBC next week.
Simon Jupp
Con
Question
Expresses concern over proposed changes for BBC Radio Devon and Cornwall, including programme sharing and job losses. Asks how local news provision will be protected.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the importance of local journalism but expresses concerns about merging large geographical counties like Devon and Cornwall. Offers to engage further with Simon Jupp on these issues.
Derek Twigg
Lab
Widnes and Halewood
Question
Questions whether the BBC should concentrate more on improving local content rather than making changes that could lead to closures in a year or two.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the importance of Merseyside radio and its track record. States she was not given notice beyond the news release yesterday, but notes that proposals include investment in investigative journalism.
Steve Brine
Con
Question
Raises concerns about weekend local output on BBC Radio Solent and asks if regional investigative hubs will replace truly local radio stations.
Minister reply
Suggests asking whether the licence fee payers actually want these changes, as the BBC should be delivering distinct local content.
Valerie Vaz
Lab
Walsall and Bloxwich
Question
Asks for reassurance that decisions are not final and updates on discussions with the director-general.
Minister reply
Reassures that it is a great opportunity to show the strength of opinion across the House. Acknowledges the importance of local radio services during the pandemic.
Maldon
Question
Urges reconsideration and asks if Ofcom should look into the impact on local publishers.
Minister reply
Acknowledges BBC Essex's valuable content. States willingness to talk to Ofcom about fundamental questions regarding the purpose of the BBC.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Question
Cites an example of how local radio impacted everyday lives during the pandemic.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the importance of local radio services providing up-to-date information. Thanks Jamie Stone for highlighting funding issues and important work done by BBC.
Tracey Crouch
Con
Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
Question
Discusses the importance of local radio in Kent, questioning why a merged service with Surrey and Sussex would be beneficial. Raises concerns about digital disconnection among certain demographics.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the importance of local content provided by BBC Radio Lancashire and highlights that merging services with Surrey and Sussex would not provide the type of specialised content that people are looking for.
Karl Turner
Lab
Kingston upon Hull East
Question
Praises the quality and objectivity of BBC radio journalists, particularly in covering rugby league. Urges the Minister to impress upon the director-general the crucial importance of local knowledge.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the hon. Gentleman's expertise and suggests that this urgent question has been a useful opportunity for Members to highlight the importance of local content.
Kevin Foster
Con
Torbay
Question
Highlights the role of BBC Radio Devon in providing coverage of grassroots sports, specifically mentioning Torquay United. Asks how the Minister will ensure that such coverage is maintained.
Minister reply
Reaffirms the importance of services provided to rural counties and promises to raise this with the director-general.
Hilary Benn
Lab
Leeds South
Question
Urges the Minister to take constituents' sense of unhappiness about BBC local radio to her meeting with the director-general, particularly highlighting the questioning of the Prime Minister by BBC Radio Leeds.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the right hon. Gentleman's suggestions and emphasises that this urgent question has allowed Members to highlight particular parts of the country and the importance of local content.
Andy Carter
Con
Gorsley
Question
Raises concerns about the potential impact on older audiences and other local media if BBC services are moved online. Asks how Ofcom will look at this decision.
Minister reply
Acknowledges that there is a delicate ecology around radio content, ensuring it enhances local journalism rather than creating sustainability questions for other journalists.
Ian Paisley Jnr
DUP
North Antrim
Question
Questions the duplication within BBC regional services and suggests many savings to be made. Raises concerns about changes in Northern Ireland.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the hon. Gentleman's expertise, highlights the £3.8 billion a year licence fee income of the BBC, and emphasises the importance of local content provided by public service broadcasters.
Jason McCartney
Con
Colne Valley
Question
Declares an interest as a former employee of BBC Radio Tees. Praises continued local sport coverage but urges the Minister to push for proper local coverage throughout the day, not stopping at 2 pm.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the importance of local news and specific local updates such as weather and travel information, promising to raise these issues with the director-general.
Cat Smith
Lab
Lancaster and Wyre
Question
Highlights concerns over proposed service changes in Lancashire which would see shared services with Cumbria from 2 pm onwards. Argues that this fracturing of local radio is a threat to democracy.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the potential for geographically large and diverse areas being stitched together, raising serious questions about democratic accountability.
Mike Penning
Con
Hemel Hempstead
Question
Surprised that the Minister only heard about changes last couple of days. Raises concerns about trust in local radio and mentions high salaries at BBC, suggesting they should be cut to fund local services.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the hon. Friend's concerns, highlights public trust issues around large salaries within the BBC, and suggests that more details are needed for a serious debate.
Hayes and Harlington
Question
Expressed concern about job losses in the BBC, warned that digital first proposals are undermining local news provision. Asked for a meeting with the NUJ group.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the concerns raised by the NUJ and expressed regret over timing of proposals during Journalism Matters Week.
Kit Malthouse
Con
North West Hampshire
Question
Expressed alarm at the BBC's move, suggested reviewing impact on commercial sector.
Minister reply
Agreed to review issues raised and welcome further details about local challenges.
Kim Johnson
Lab
Liverpool Riverside
Question
Asked if the Minister agreed that this represents a core part of the BBC's function, inquired what action would be taken.
Minister reply
Agreed on the importance of local radio but emphasised the need for the BBC to adapt while maintaining its mission.
Martin Vickers
Con
Brigg and Immingham
Question
Highlighted lack of consultation, urged dropping proposals in short term.
Minister reply
Expressed sympathy with changes but emphasised the need for BBC to remain focused on its core mission.
Toby Perkins
Lab
Chesterfield
Question
Argued that BBC should preserve unique services, not replicate others.
Minister reply
Agreed with the importance of distinctive local content in fulfilling BBC's remit.
Alec Shelbrooke
Con
Wetherby and Easingwold
Question
Highlighted undermining of accountability by BBC, asked for a hard look at what has been happening.
Minister reply
Promised to discuss these issues with the director-general next week.
Question
Inquired about updating on meetings and impact on older listeners.
Minister reply
Agreed to write to Members after discussions with the BBC.
Question
Asked if older listeners will be taken into account in digitalisation, raised issue of high salaries for some BBC employees.
Minister reply
Acknowledged importance of serving older listeners and maintaining core purpose during adaptation.
Grahame Morris
Lab
Easington
Question
Called for an urgent review by Ofcom, urged meeting with the NUJ group.
Minister reply
Agreed to consider input from NUJ and other concerns in mid-term review.
Question
Asked if further reductions would exacerbate perception of BBC as London-focused.
Minister reply
Acknowledged previous efforts to move services out of London but raised questions about whether the BBC adequately represents all areas.
Andrew Gwynne
Ind
Gorton and Denton
Question
The beauty of BBC local radio is that it does what it says on the tin—it is local—and that is true of all the radio stations, including those that cover big cities. It is important that we keep that local link to news stories and sport. The Minister knows that local radio stations are also an important pipeline for developing the creative media and the workforce for other media outlets. Can she get some guarantees from the BBC that nothing it proposes will harm that creative pipeline?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman raises an important point about the BBC, which is important not just for the BBC itself but the wider creative economy. Some of the investment that the BBC makes in local journalism has a knock-on benefit for other media organisations, and that creates a flourishing local media ecology.
Question
The city of Southend has one of the oldest demographics in the country, so will my hon. Friend assure me that she will stress to the BBC how valued BBC Essex is by our elderly population? It does a wonderful job, especially of celebrating our local heroes and raising thousands of pounds every year for charities.
Minister reply
I hope that the BBC listens carefully to all the points that hon. Members are raising today. As a public service broadcaster, the BBC is there to serve all demographics, but particularly those who are poorly served by other means.
Clive Betts
Lab
Sheffield South East
Question
I echo the comments made by my hon. Friends already about the excellent services provided by Radio Sheffield—local news, local motoring and local football. The key is the word “local”. People in Sheffield and south Yorkshire want to know what is happening in their immediate communities: frankly, they are not desperately interested in what is happening in Leeds and west Yorkshire. Will the Minister tell the director-general that that simply should not be allowed to happen and is not what local people want?
Minister reply
The hon. Member’s point goes to the fundamental question of at what point local news ceases to be local. I shall ask the director-general that very question.
Question
My hon. Friend was spot on to describe BBC local radio as one of the crown jewels of our public sector broadcaster. BBC Hereford and Worcester was a vital lifeline during the pandemic and many times during the all-too frequent floods in Worcester. Will she join me in urging the BBC to make sure that BBC Hereford and Worcester is able to cover the fightback and return to the premiership of the Worcester Warriors?
Minister reply
I commend my hon. Friend on his plug for the Worcester Warriors. He is right about the very specific stories that are covered by BBC local radio and their importance, particularly in times of need and difficulty during the pandemic or local floods.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Question
It is simple—no local BBC, no BBC. It is where the news breaks and where communities are served, and in York BBC Radio York served us incredibly well during the floods and continues to be part of our community all day and through the night. The most worrying part of the proposals is that we will lose public service broadcasting time in our communities, something that needs to be protected in the light of the commercial sector and its interests. When the Minister meets the director-general, will she ensure that she stresses the importance of public service broadcasting and the need for it to be reinforced in the role of the BBC and its responsibilities to licence payers?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right to highlight that—it is what public service broadcasting is about. My worry is that such proposals stand to undermine the social compact between licence fee payer and the BBC.
Question
Members have shared their concerns that their local radio station will be merged or shared after 2 pm. We should all be clear about the direction of travel of this proposal. My constituents are clear that their priorities when they pay their licence fee are local programmes and local news. It is not acceptable to them that we have multi-million pound salaries paid by the BBC but local news is not available to them. Will the Minister please petition very strongly the director-general and the chairman of the BBC to change these initiatives and re-prioritise Dorset?
Minister reply
I had the pleasure of staying in my hon. Friend’s constituency for a few days recently, when I enjoyed the BBC local services on offer which provided a distinct flavour of the region and the local community he represents.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for her response to questions today. Impartiality is critical. BBC services in Northern Ireland are somewhat limited, but some programming—outside the oft-biased news pieces—is used to promote cultural events such as a Burns night supper or an Irish evening. Can the Minister confirm that the proposed reduction will include a focus on cutting the cost of some of the overpaid staff and rekindling local cultural programmes that are enjoyable and very informative?
Minister reply
I know that the hon. Gentleman feels strongly about issues of impartiality in the BBC, and the former Secretary of State extracted several commitments from it, with a 10-point plan to take that forward.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Question
I share the concerns raised by hon. Members on both sides of the House and by the Minister about these retrograde proposals. In rural areas such as Cumbria, people rely on local radio stations such as BBC Radio Cumbria and on terrestrial TV. They provide a lifeline for news and education, mitigate against rural isolation and support people’s rural mental health. Does she agree that we should resist such reductions and that, in fact, we should bolster and support such vital services?
Minister reply
I have said several times, and I will say again, that this is the kind of public service broadcasting content that people pay their licence fee for. Hon. Members have got their views on the issue across loud and clear.
Shadow Comment
Emma Hardy
Shadow Comment
The shadow minister welcomed the announcement but highlighted significant concerns about changes proposed without consultation with local communities, potentially leading to a reduction in service after 2 pm. She noted that Radio Humberside is facing 139 redundancies, which will result in a loss of expertise and community voice. The Labour MP questioned whether these changes would be damaging to local communities as they lose an important source for their experiences, concerns about services, democracy, and accountability.
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