Last lobbying push on BBC licence
A parliamentary effort is being organised to persuade Gordon Brown that the BBC deserves a generous licence fee formula.
BECTU, the NUJ, audience representatives, and sympathetic MPs have called an open meeting in the House of Commons on Tuesday January 9 2007.
“This is vandalism of an institution that has wide public support”
Starting at 6.00 pm in Committee Room 14 at the Commons, back benchers will hear trade union representatives and fellow politicians argue the case for a future licence fee formula that guarantees the BBC a rising income.
The current formula, which gives the BBC an increase each year of inflation plus 1.5% expires in March 2007, and the government is about to announce the new arrangements some time this month.
Press speculation, fuelled by Whitehall leaks, has focused on the Treasury's opposition to an "RPI-plus" formula, despite the financial burden the BBC faces in coming years as it pays for the roll-out of digital TV, as well as an ambitious move to Salford.
John Grogan MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary BBC Group said: "The Cabinet is expected to discuss the licence fee settlement on Thursday January 11th and the very least that is needed is for them to restore the link with the retail price index established in 1989.
"Press reports say the Treasury is effectively demanding a 1% real terms cut each year whilst asking for more expenditure on financing digital switchover and moving to Manchester. The only result will be a cut in programme budgets."
Jocelyn Hay, Chair of the Voice of the Listener and Viewer (VLV) said: "Research commissioned by the DCMS during the longest and most detailed consultation yet held on the renewal of the BBC Charter, shows that the majority of licence fee payers would be willing to pay above the Retail Price Index in order to get high quality programmes, content and services from the BBC, with fewer repeats and cheap copycat programming."
On behalf of BECTU, Gerry Morrissey, Assistant General Secretary, said: "The BBC is a good example of a public service delivering, so the proposed licence fee settlement would be very damaging and would result in the quality of programmes been compromised, especially on the digital channels .
"The damage will be felt outside the BBC as well with the independent production sector and training providers all seeing less investment from a financially strapped BBC. This is vandalism of an institution which has wide support amongst the general public."
The meeting is open to any BECTU members who are free to attend. Due to security controls members are advised to enter the House of Commons via the St.Stephens entrance before 5.30 pm on the day.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber has added his weight to the campaign for a generous licence settlement by writing directly to Gordon Brown, warning in his letter that the BBC's quality of service will fall if the corporation is starved of funding.
TUC letter to Gordon Brown
Dear Gordon
BBC licence fee settlement
I understand that the Government will shortly be deciding on the level of the BBC Licence Fee for the coming period and have been disturbed to see reports that the settlement might be below the rate of inflation.
As you will know the TUC has a dual status regarding the BBC, representing both a substantial proportion of viewers and listeners as well as many of the people who work for the BBC, either directly or through contractors.
And it is in both capacities that the TUC has long been a strong supporter of the BBC, seeing it as an essential element in our national life: providing entertainment, information and education, independent of government and without the overwhelming commercial pressures, which drive the rest of the media.
We particularly value the BBC's role as an informed, impartial and independent course of news and current affairs, which we see as essential for our democracy.
In order to maintain its traditional qualities and meet the challenges posed by changes in society and in technology, it is essential that the BBC is adequately funded and research has demonstrated that the public is prepared to pay for services through an increased licence fee.
We are particularly conscious that the Government has imposed two additional requirements on the BBC at the present time: - the move to Salford and digital switchover. Both of these will involve substantial investment and we strongly believe that the resources should be provided to fund these developments.
We are conscious that the BBC, like other public services, must show that it is providing value for money, but we fear that without adequate funding, the quality of service will be adversely affected. I hope that you and your Cabinet colleagues will bear these points in mind when you consider the licence fee settlement.
Yours sincerely
Brendan Barber
General Secretary
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