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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the conclusions of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee report of February 2015, <i>Future of the BBC</i>, that (1) the BBC’s independence could be compromised by negotiations with government that lack transparency and public consultation; (2) licence fee payers must be consulted and Parliament should have an opportunity to debate any significant changes to funding responsibilities; and (3) that it was wholly wrong that the 2010 licence fee settlement was not subject to any public or parliamentary consultation.

The BBC Charter Review Consultation, published on 16 July 2015, drew heavily on the evidence heard by, and the report from, the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s report on the Future of the BBC. The Charter Review provides an opportunity for a wide-ranging national debate about the BBC, and will inform the Government’s proposals for the future of the BBC, including its funding.