House of Commons · Westminster Hall
12 July 2022 · 5 other contributors · 9,503 words
Opened by Rob Butler Con Aylesbury
Responding minister: Matt Warman
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Rob Butler raised concerns about bbc charter: regional television news in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Mr Butler asks the Government to intervene and ensure that the BBC complies with its charter requirements by providing regional news through television channels as it was previously done. He requests that dedicated TV bulletins for Oxford be maintained.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Mr Butler is concerned about the BBC's decision to close regional TV news programmes in Oxford and Cambridge. He cites that these changes are not due to financial savings but a shift towards online content, despite evidence suggesting older viewers prefer television for local news. The MP highlights that many local newspapers have closed since 2005 and commercial radio stations like Mix 96 in Aylesbury have also ceased operations, leaving a gap in local journalism.
Mr Zeichner expressed concern about the impact of proposed BBC changes to regional television news, highlighting a decrease in local journalism and its implications for democracy. He cited the importance of regional TV in areas like Cambridge where the population is rapidly growing but under-resourced according to recent census data.
Jamie Stone highlighted the significant reduction in regional television news coverage in Scotland's highlands from a half-hour bulletin to just five minutes. He lamented the erosion of investigative journalism and its impact on democratic accountability. Stone noted that while BBC Scotland has a team dedicated to Gaelic language support, English-speaking broadcasters have decreased from around 20 to seven, covering vast geographical areas with sparse populations. He expressed concern over the disparity in news coverage between Orkney and Shetland receiving half-hour bulletins compared to the entire highlands getting one short bulletin. Stone also reminisced about regional programming and its importance to British culture.
Jeff Smith, a former broadcast journalist, expressed concerns about the future of the BBC and its funding model beyond 2027. He highlighted the importance of the licence fee freeze for maintaining stability and securing jobs across the UK, pointing out that local news coverage is being squeezed with dedicated frontline reporting becoming a casualty.
Mr Howell expressed concern about the BBC's approach to investigative journalism at a local level, noting that it is not cheap and requires substantial human costs. He raised questions about how the BBC will manage impartiality in the digital age compared to biased platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Has the Minister noticed that what is being asked for in terms of local investigative journalism mirrors how the BBC operates globally, with a focus on small groups and investigative work.
Expressed concerns about the BBC's regional news programmes closing due to job losses, blaming the Government for pressuring the BBC to take on responsibility for TV licence provision for over-75s. Highlighted the importance of the BBC in delivering public service broadcasting and criticised the current arrangement where only 67% of the licence fee raised in Scotland is spent there.
Government Response
Matt WarmanThe Government would like to see the BBC preserve and enhance its regional output as much as possible. The charter and framework agreement guarantee the BBC's current model as an independent, publicly owned, public service broadcaster with responsibilities for impartial news and information. The licence fee will be frozen for two years, allowing the BBC to receive around £3.7 billion in annual funding. Ofcom regulates the BBC's adherence to its mission and public purposes through an operating licence. Tim Davie's vision includes maintaining overall investment in local and regional content but merging or ending some services to free up money for online investments. The Government welcome the maintenance of support for the Local Democracy Reporting Service during this charter period. They recognise the continued requirement for the BBC to produce regional news programmes on traditional platforms and are taking measures to update decades-old rules to give PSBs more flexibility. A media Bill will be introduced to support PSBs by updating rules and guaranteeing online prominence. The Government fund the community radio fund and evaluate how the BBC and Ofcom assess market impact and public value in the local news market through the mid-term review.