Broadcasting

Natascha Engel Excerpts

Tuesday 18th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Relevant documents: First Report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Session 2015-16, BBC Charter Review, HC 398; Third Report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Session 2016-17, BBC White Paper and other issues, HC 150; Oral evidence taken before the Defence Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on 11 October, on the future operations of BBC Monitoring, HC 732; First Report from the Welsh Affairs Committee, Session 2016-17, Broadcasting in Wales, HC 14; and the Government response, HC 697.]

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Natascha Engel)]

I inform the House that Mr Speaker has selected the amendment in the name of John Nicolson, whom I will call to move the amendment formally at the end of the debate.

--- Later in debate ---

[Ian Murray]

I am very grateful, as the hon. Gentleman has been incredibly generous with his time. We want to support your motion, so will you give clarity about what it actually says? Are you saying that a Scottish Six, in the BBC News Scotland context, is an editorial decision for the BBC in Scotland—I hope that is what the motion says—or that you are looking to make this a policy decision in the charter? The latter would not be desirable, and I think he is arguing the same.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Natascha Engel)]

Order. A lot of people are using the word “you” when they mean hon. Members. I gently remind people that when they say “you,” they are referring to the Chair.

[John Nicolson]

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is important that there should not be political interference in the decision about whether or not there is a separate Scottish Six. I have made this point repeatedly. I am encouraging the BBC to continue fearlessly with its current proposals, to continue with the pilots and to provide jobs and investment in the way that it wants to do and that its staff want to do. The BBC is rich in talent and creativity. Its strength is its extraordinary workforce. We have, in the course of our charter deliberations, made clear our passionate support for public service broadcasting. Where we have offered criticism, we hope we have been constructive, and much of our criticism has been accepted by the BBC. We urge it now to translate its aspirations into delivery.

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Order. For the avoidance of doubt, let me say that at the beginning of the hon. Gentleman’s speech he attempted to move the amendment, but he was speaking to the motion. He will be called to move the amendment formally at the end of the debate.