MPs condemn BBC privatisation
MPs from all the main parties have condemned the threatened privatisation of BBC Resources and Worldwide.
MPs have been signing a Parliamentary Early Day Motion (EDM), tabled at the beginning of November, which criticises the proposed sell-offs.
BECTU members are being asked to contact their MPs and urge them to add their signatures to the list.
Like most EDMs, the motion is unlikely to be debated in the House of Commons, but the list of signatories is expected to send a clear message to the government that backbenchers are opposed to the privatisation plans in The Future Funding of the BBC report, produced by the panel chaired by Gavyn Davies.
The EDM was tabled on Friday November 5, exactly a week after a Commons debate on broadcasting in which several backbench MPs questioned many of the recommendations in the Davies report, including the proposed privatisations.
Gerald Kaufman, chair of the influential Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport said in the debate: "I do not commend the proposal for the privatisation of BBC Resources Limited...it is absurd to sell it off for one capital payment when, properly run, it could add a great deal to the BBC's revenues."
Labour MP John Grogan followed the theme by saying: "I disagree fundamentally with the privatisation of BBC Resources and BBC Worldwide. Resources is the craft base of the entire television industry...BBC Worldwide is a good example of public enterprise efficiency within the BBC".
Read full Parliamentary debate in Hansard
BECTU members who want to urge their MP to sign the EDM can write to them at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA, or ring on 0171-219 3000. Members unsure of the name of their MP's name should contact BECTU Head Office.
Full text of Early Day Motion [Number 989]:
That this House is gravely concerned that the Davies report on the future of the BBC proposes the privatisation of BBC Resources Ltd; fears that these proposals threaten both the ability of the BBC to continue top produce programmes of world class quality and its position as premier trainer of the industry; notes that the proposed privatisation threatens 4000 jobs and the break up of a centre of world-renowned technical excellence and puts at risk the BBC's ability to react swiftly to the needs of the nation at times of national crisis and other events; believes that the sale of BBC resources will contribute little to funds needed by the BBC and is irrelevant to the debate about the future funding of the BBC; and further believes that there is no case for the proposal to sell of 49% of BBC Worldwide and that the BBC should be able to use profits from the sale of global programme successes to produce other high quality productions.