BBC Charter Renewal 2025-11-27
2025-11-27
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The Public Accounts Committee has noted that the BBC lost more than £1 billion last year due to evasion and households no longer needing a licence, with this figure expected to increase. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy) is having daily conversations with the BBC leadership on charter renewal.
The Secretary of State will be aware that as the Public Accounts Committee has pointed out, last year the BBC lost more than £1 billion as a result of evasion and households declaring that they no longer need a licence. That figure is going to grow over the course of the next charter, so will she look at finding other ways in which we can close the funding gap?
Yes. As the right hon. Gentleman would imagine, we are looking at a whole range of options around BBC funding to ensure that it is sustainably funded for many years to come. In particular, we are very keen to ensure that people feel a sense of ownership and belonging over the BBC, which is why the point about the nations and regions is so important. Ofcom recently produced a report in which it showed that of the top Scottish producers who fulfil the Scottish quota, for example, only one third are actually based in Scotland among the public sector broadcasters.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy