Asked by: Jack Rankin (Conservative - Windsor)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to BBC article entitled Tax rises could push food prices higher, warn supermarkets, published on 26 October, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of an increase in business rates on food inflation.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury does not produce forecasts of the UK economy. Forecasting the economy, including the potential impact of Government policy decisions, is the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which published its latest forecast on 26 November 2025. The OBR publishes estimates of the impact of policy decisions, however the potential impact of an increase in business rates on levels of food inflation was accessed not to have a material impact.
The OBR’s forecast shows wider government policy will reduce CPI inflation by 0.4 percentage points in 2026/27. This is the biggest near-term reduction in inflation due to government policy ever forecast by the OBR at a single fiscal event, outside of a crisis.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with BBC on the potential impact of its proposed budget savings on its (a) television, (b) radio, (c) streamed content and (d) website content.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Prime Minister and Secretary of State believe public service broadcasting, and the BBC in particular, are vital British assets that contribute to our national life, and help to shape and define our nation. The Secretary State meets with the BBC leadership regularly to discuss a range of issues.
It is important that the licence fee is used efficiently and the BBC must ensure it is delivering value for audiences. However, as an independent organisation, the BBC’s spending decisions are a matter for the BBC. The Government recognises the BBC faces funding pressures, and we will consider how we fund the BBC sustainably as part of the Charter Review.
Asked by: Lord Lebedev (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, as part of the upcoming BBC Charter review, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has conducted a study of how the BBC is fulfilling its duties with regard to impartiality; and if so, what the study found.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Under its Royal Charter, the BBC has a duty ‘to provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them’. In delivering on that duty, the BBC is independent from the government. It is the responsibility of Ofcom, as the BBC’s independent regulator, to hold the BBC to account for delivering on its Mission and Public Purposes, including due impartiality. Ofcom regularly reports on BBC performance, including in its annual reports on the BBC.
The government expects the BBC to uphold the highest editorial standards and to report the news accurately and impartially. The upcoming Charter Review will consider how best to ensure the BBC continues to deliver the high standards of reporting that the public expect of a national broadcaster.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to remove the Television Licence exemption for people over 75 years old and in receipt of pension credit.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
To ensure the BBC is on a stable financial footing, the Government has committed to the current licence fee model for the remainder of the current Charter period. Currently, TV licence concessions are available to people who are registered blind or severely sight impaired, people over-75 and in receipt of pension credit, and people living in qualifying residential care who are disabled or over 60 years old. The BBC, rather than the Government, is responsible for the concession for over-75s in receipt of pension credit.
Looking further ahead, the Secretary of State has been clear that the BBC must be funded by a model that is sustainable and fair to all those that are paying it. The Government is keeping an open mind about the future of the licence fee, and the forthcoming Charter Review is a key opportunity to set the BBC up for success long into the future.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will hold discussions with the BBC on levels of remuneration of working class employees.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The BBC is operationally and editorially independent of the Government. Employee remuneration is therefore a matter for the BBC, and the individuals themselves.
The BBC’s Framework Agreement sets targets for the make-up of its workforce by the end of the current Charter. This includes a target for 25% of the workforce to be from low socio-economic groups. In its Annual Report the BBC reports on its performance against this target, as well as its pay gaps, including the socio-economic pay gap.
As part of the next Charter Review, the Government will engage with the BBC and others to consider how to ensure the BBC thrives well into the next decade and beyond. This will include discussions between the Culture Secretary and the BBC on a range of important issues.
Asked by: Jack Rankin (Conservative - Windsor)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to BBC article entitled Tax rises could push food prices higher, warn supermarkets, published on 26 October, what steps she is taking to work with retailers to mitigate the impact of food inflation.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has announced a Food Inflation Gateway to assess and monitor regulation that could add to food prices. This will improve coordination and give food businesses a clear line of sight on upcoming regulatory changes, helping to keep costs down
The Government is also negotiating an agri-food agreement with the EU to reduce trade frictions, which is expected to save businesses up to £200 per fresh food shipment, helping to limit cost pressures across supply chains.
In addition, supermarkets will see a reduction in their total business rates bills in 2026/27 compared with 2025/26, and this will be kept under review at the next revaluation. The Office for Budget Responsibility does not expect changes in business rates to have a material impact on food inflation.
Overall, the OBR’s forecast shows government policy will reduce CPI inflation by 0.4 percentage points in 2026/27. This is the biggest near-term reduction in inflation due to government policy ever forecast by the OBR at a single fiscal event, outside of a crisis.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations she has made to her US counterpart on legal action threatened by the President of the United States against the BBC.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
This is a matter for the BBC, whose lawyers are now dealing with the issue. The BBC is independent of the UK government and so it is a matter for them and the US President.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has contingency funds to meet the legal liabilities of the BBC.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
This is a matter for the BBC, whose lawyers are now dealing with the issue. The BBC is independent of the UK government and so it is a matter for them and the US President.
Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many hours of Gaelic (a) television and (b) radio programmes were broadcast each year under the Multiplex Licence (Broadcasting of Programmes in Gaelic) Order 1996 in each of the last five years.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Multiplex Licence (Broadcasting of Programmes in Gaelic) Order 1996 was repealed in 2011. As a result, Gaelic language broadcasting generally, and services currently broadcast wholly or mainly in Cornwall, are no longer required to meet the criteria of the Multiplex Licence (Broadcasting of Programmes in Gaelic) Order 1996.
Regarding Cornish and Gaelic programming, the Media Act 2024 once commenced, will for the first time make clear in legislation the importance of the provision of these indigenous regional and minority languages as part of the modernised public service remit for television. It will be for Ofcom, the independent regulator, to monitor compliance.
In terms of the provision of the broadcasting of television programming in Scottish Gaelic in Scotland, the 1996 Order was replaced with the current arrangement between the BBC and MG ALBA for the carriage of BBC Alba. The BBC report on its provision of Scottish Gaelic programming in its annual report, and Ofcom annually reports on the amount of first run hours of Gaelic television programming aired on BBC Alba.
Additionally, the BBC has a broader obligation under its Royal Charter to reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities of all the UK’s nations and regions, including support for Minority Language Broadcasting across its services.
Meanwhile, support for Irish Gaelic programming is facilitated through support from the Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund (ILBF) and the Nimux programme which extends the coverage of TG4, the Irish Gaelic public service channel, across Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether any services currently broadcast wholly or mainly in Cornwall meet the criteria set out in The Multiplex Licence (Broadcasting of Programmes in Gaelic) Order 1996.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Multiplex Licence (Broadcasting of Programmes in Gaelic) Order 1996 was repealed in 2011. As a result, Gaelic language broadcasting generally, and services currently broadcast wholly or mainly in Cornwall, are no longer required to meet the criteria of the Multiplex Licence (Broadcasting of Programmes in Gaelic) Order 1996.
Regarding Cornish and Gaelic programming, the Media Act 2024 once commenced, will for the first time make clear in legislation the importance of the provision of these indigenous regional and minority languages as part of the modernised public service remit for television. It will be for Ofcom, the independent regulator, to monitor compliance.
In terms of the provision of the broadcasting of television programming in Scottish Gaelic in Scotland, the 1996 Order was replaced with the current arrangement between the BBC and MG ALBA for the carriage of BBC Alba. The BBC report on its provision of Scottish Gaelic programming in its annual report, and Ofcom annually reports on the amount of first run hours of Gaelic television programming aired on BBC Alba.
Additionally, the BBC has a broader obligation under its Royal Charter to reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities of all the UK’s nations and regions, including support for Minority Language Broadcasting across its services.
Meanwhile, support for Irish Gaelic programming is facilitated through support from the Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund (ILBF) and the Nimux programme which extends the coverage of TG4, the Irish Gaelic public service channel, across Northern Ireland.