Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the BBC on the implications for (a) public health and (b) disinformation of the appearance of individuals who have espoused anti-covid-19-vaccine views on BBC television channels.

The BBC has a duty to deliver impartial and accurate news coverage and content under its Royal Charter. The BBC Charter also requires the BBC to ‘accurately and authentically represent and portray the lives of the people of the United Kingdom today, and raise awareness of the different cultures and alternative viewpoints that make up its society.’

The BBC is operationally and editorially independent of the government, and the government has no say on the BBC's day-to-day decisions, including on the content it shows. It is for the BBC Board to ensure the quality of all BBC’s content, and that BBC output meets the highest standards the public expects.

As the external independent regulator of the BBC, Ofcom is responsible for ensuring BBC coverage is impartial and accurate under the Broadcasting Code and BBC Charter.