Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

BBC Licence Fee

Thursday 18 November 2021 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government have committed to maintaining the licence fee funding model for the duration of the charter period.
  • My priority is to secure a settlement that delivers value for money for those hard-pressed constituents and for the licence fee payer.
  • I do speak regularly to the independent sector, including Channel 4 and other bodies within the sector.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alun Cairns Con
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The question follows discussions about maintaining the current funding model for the BBC.

Question

What plans she has for the future of the BBC licence fee. The Government have committed to maintaining the licence fee funding model for the duration of the charter period. Ahead of the next charter review process, we will undertake a detailed look at the TV licence model to ensure that it is fit for the future.

Answer from Nadine Dorries

The Government have committed to maintaining the licence fee funding model for the duration of the charter period. Ahead of the next charter review process, we will undertake a detailed look at the TV licence model to ensure that it is fit for the future.

Answered
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Q2 Alun Cairns Con
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The MP noted the potential to cut or freeze the licence fee and its impact on competition from the independent sector.

Question

There is the potential to cut or at least freeze the licence fee. It raises over £3.5 billion a year, much of which is used to create quality broadcasts. However, significant sums are used to squeeze out competition from the independent sector. This is the most regressive form of taxation, akin to the poll tax, so does she agree that a freeze or a cut would be not only a welcome boost to hard-pressed families, but a way of facilitating innovation within the BBC and encouraging competition from outside, creating a much more dynamic broadcast provision?

Answer from Nadine Dorries

My priority is to secure a settlement that delivers value for money for those hard-pressed constituents and for the licence fee payer, while making sure that the BBC can continue to provide high-quality services. I have been having constructive discussions with the BBC and believe we are close to reaching an agreement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: did not address whether a freeze or cut would benefit families or encourage innovation within the BBC

How: Refused To Comment Further While Negotiations Are Taking Place

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Q3 Kevin Brennan Lab
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The MP argued that the BBC supports a mixed economy in creative industries and suggested not to tinker with the system out of ideology.

Question

When the Secretary of State is thinking about the future of the licence fee, will she talk to those in the independent sector that the right hon. Gentleman mentioned? Far from saying that they are being squeezed out, they will tell her that the BBC and the system we have of a mixed economy in our creative industries in this country are underpinned by the quality of the BBC. It exercises a gravitational pull that is the envy of the world.

Answer from Nadine Dorries

I do speak regularly to the independent sector, including Channel 4 and other bodies within the sector. I take comments on board that the BBC is essential for Britishness and broadcasting excellence, but there have been some problems recently highlighted during the response to the Serota review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: did not confirm specific discussions with independent sector or their views on BBC's role in supporting a mixed economy

How: Refused To Comment Further While Negotiations Are Taking Place

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Q4 Philip Hollobone Con
Culture, Media & Sport Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP questioned the BBC's decision to abolish free TV licences for pensioners and suggested scrapping the licence fee altogether.

Question

In 2017, the BBC agreed to take over funding of free TV licences for over-75s in return for increased income from increases in the licence fee and other commercial funding streams. The BBC's behaviour since shows that it cannot be trusted; they abolished free TV licences for pensioners. For its disgraceful treatment of pensioners, will the Secretary State use the funding review to scrap the licence fee altogether?

Answer from Nadine Dorries

The charter renewal does not take place until 2027, and we will start discussions next year. The future of the licence fee will be decided at that point, and my hon. Friend's comments have been noted.

Partly answered

Not addressed: did not confirm whether scrapping the BBC licence fee is being considered

How: Refused To Comment Further While Negotiations Are Taking Place

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Q5 Jo Stevens Lab Cardiff East
Culture, Media & Sport Standards & Ethics
Context

The MP questioned whether a Government Minister overseeing licence fee negotiations should seek to influence editorial decisions.

Question

We have spent much of the past two weeks talking about standards in public office, and on this side of the House we care deeply about the independence and impartiality of the BBC. I know that the Secretary State also cares, to the extent that she actually has the time to police the BBC political editor's tweets and publicly rebuke her. Does the Secretary of State agree that it would be highly inappropriate for a Government Minister overseeing licence fee negotiations to seek to influence editorial decisions?

Answer from Nadine Dorries

There were four elements to the question. On the tweet, I did not rebuke Laura Kuenssberg; it was a polite and professional response that some people misinterpreted.

Partly answered

Not addressed: did not address appropriateness of seeking to influence editorial decisions while overseeing licence fee negotiations

How: Refused To Comment Further On The Other Elements

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