Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

BBC Board: Complaints Procedure

Thursday 20 July 2023 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial meetings with BBC leadership focus on improving complaints procedures.
  • The mid-term review aims to conclude by 2024, addressing public dissatisfaction with current processes.
  • The BBC handled the Huw Edwards investigation internally, with the police ruling out criminal involvement.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ian Paisley Jnr DUP
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Discussions on the BBC's complaints process have been ongoing, with concerns over the adequacy and independence of current mechanisms.

Question

I am concerned about whether discussions with the BBC board have occurred regarding its complaints procedures. The complaints process within the BBC is inadequate, lacking genuine independence, and thus public confidence in it is low. I hope the outcome of the review will address this need for a genuinely independent mechanism.

Answer from John Whittingdale

We meet regularly with the BBC's leadership and are focusing on its complaints procedures as part of the mid-term review. The DCMS is consulting the BBC, and we aim to conclude the review by 2024. Research from Ofcom supports dissatisfaction with existing processes, which both the government and the BBC wish to address.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for an independent complaints mechanism was not explicitly addressed beyond acknowledging ongoing consultation.

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Q2 Ian Paisley Jnr DUP
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The mid-term review is focused on improving the BBC's complaints process, which has faced criticism for its inadequacy.

Question

I look forward to the conclusions of the mid-term review. The complaints process within the BBC is inadequate, lacking genuine independence, and therefore public confidence in it is low. I hope the outcome will take into account the need for a genuinely independent mechanism to ensure public trust.

Answer from John Whittingdale

We are aware of Ofcom research indicating considerable dissatisfaction with existing complaints procedures. The BBC is also aware and we aim to strengthen them through ongoing consultations within the mid-term review process.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific call for an independent mechanism was not directly addressed, though improvement efforts were acknowledged.

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Q3 John Nicolson SNP
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The BBC faced scrutiny over accusations against Huw Edwards, leading to an internal investigation. The police later clarified that there was no criminality involved.

Question

Over the last 10 days, the BBC has been deeply engaged in self-analysis regarding accusations about Huw Edwards. For days, this story dominated every bulletin. I chose not to comment until more information was available. Now that an investigation is underway and the police have ruled out criminality, what lessons can be drawn? Politicians should exercise caution before condemning developing stories, especially those reported by The Sun.

Answer from John Whittingdale

This was a matter for the BBC to handle internally. We were kept informed but did not intervene as it was an internal issue. The Sun is part of IPSO, and if there are breaches of the code, it is up to IPSO to address them.

Not addressed: The specific lessons or implications for independent press regulation were not addressed; focus was shifted towards existing regulatory frameworks.

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