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Thursday Volume 600 22 October 2015 No. 55 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 22 October 2015 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2015 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 1103 22 OCTOBER 2015 1104 The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport House of Commons (Mr John Whittingdale): I commend the hon. Member for Ealing Central and Acton (Dr Huq) for her enthusiasm. Thursday 22 October 2015 We have just consulted on the scale and scope of BBC services in the charter review consultation, which The House met at half-past Nine o’clock ran from 16 July to 8 October. My Department will provide a summary of responses and will consult on PRAYERS further proposals in the spring. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Dr Huq: Ealing has long been a BBC borough, with the wig and prop department in north Acton and many BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS things filmed there. It has many BBC employees, hundreds of whom have contacted me wanting to safeguard its DEATH OF A MEMBER distinctiveness. The Secretary of State is a fellow music Mr Speaker: I am sorry to have to report to the buff—we are both alumni of the all-party group on House this morning the death of our parliamentary music—and was at the reception where it was revealed colleague Michael Meacher, Member for Oldham West that 75% of music played on the BBC would not get and Royton, who represented his constituents in this exposure on commercial airwaves. Does he not appreciate place without fear or favour for 45 years. Many colleagues that the people in that room and my constituents fear here present will have known Michael well. He served for the BBC’s unique music output under his Government’s his party, his constituency and his country with dedication, plans for charter renewal? ability and commitment, holding high office in Government, but above all cherishing Parliament—the legislature—and Mr Whittingdale: I am conscious of the very strong the responsibility of Members, under whichever creative industries based in Ealing. As the hon. Lady Administration, to hold the Executive to account. In says, I was present at the BBC “save music” event a recent years, he was a very prominent, active and effective couple of weeks ago, where I expressed my surprise that contributor to the work of Parliament First. I was anyone had felt it necessary. I am the first person to privileged to come to know him well over the past six recognise the importance of music on the BBC. I believe years since I took the Chair. He will, I believe, be sadly that the BBC plays a very important role in providing a missed, and at this very unfortunate and miserable time platform for genres and bands that would not otherwise for Lucianne and the family, we extend to them our be covered in the commercial sector. We are having a condolences and express the hope that they can look consultation, we have received 190,000 responses and forward in the future to happier times. we will analyse those responses. I share the hon. Lady’s view of the importance of music on the BBC. TRANSPORT FOR LONDON BILL [LORDS] Motion made, Emma Reynolds: “The Great British Bake Off”, “The That the promoters of the Transport for London Bill [Lords], Voice”, “Doctor Who”, “Strictly” and “Match of the which was originally introduced in the House of Lords in Session Day” are great British programmes made by our great 2010-12 on 24 January 2011, may have leave to proceed with the British broadcaster, which is loved by millions here and Bill in the current Session according to the provisions of Standing around the world. Why do the Government seem so Order 188B (Revival of Bills).—(The First Deputy Chairman of resolute and determined to diminish the role and the Ways and Means.) size of the BBC, weakening our influence abroad and Hon. Members: Object. undermining British programming? To be considered on Thursday 29 October. Mr Whittingdale: Even if I wanted to tell the BBC Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) (Lab) that it should not broadcast “Strictly Come Dancing” rose— or “The Great British Bake Off”—and I do not—I would not be able to do so. It is up to the BBC to choose. What I do think is appropriate is that, at the Oral Answers to Questions time of charter renewal, we should have a debate about the BBC’s purpose, its scale and scope, its funding and its governance. That is what we are doing, and we are CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT extremely pleased at the very high level of response that we have received. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport was asked— Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): May I associate myself BBC (Charter Renewal) with your remarks about Michael Meacher, Mr Speaker? Unusually, we shared a member of staff across the 1. Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) (Lab): House, which I do not think happens very often. He What assessment he has made of the appropriate scale was a great man and your words were very well said. I and scope of BBC services to inform the charter send my sympathies to his family. renewal process. [901722] Does my right hon. Friend agree that it would be far 9. Emma Reynolds (Wolverhampton North East) (Lab): better for subscribers to the BBC to determine the scale What assessment he has made of the appropriate scale and scope of its services, rather than the Government? and scope of BBC services to inform the charter renewal If the BBC is as popular with the public as it claims, it process. [901731] has nothing to fear from moving to a subscription 1105 Oral Answers22 OCTOBER 2015 Oral Answers 1106 model. Given its international recognition, is it not Mr Whittingdale: I have followed with interest the inevitable that, freed from the shackles of the licence discussions in the European Scrutiny Committee on fee, the BBC’s revenue would increase substantially if it that issue and am aware of the concerns that have been moved to a subscription model? expressed. It is for that reason that I wrote to the chairman of the BBC Trust and the chief executive of Mr Whittingdale: I am, of course, familiar with my Ofcom to re-emphasise the importance of the impartiality hon. Friend’s views on the BBC. He has made his case requirements on all broadcasters, particularly in matters with customary strength and fluency. We are analysing of some controversy, of which I suspect the European the responses to the consultation and his view will be Union referendum will be one. taken into account, as will the other 192,000 we have Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab): received. I, too, attended the launch of UK Music’s great Let it Beeb campaign, which calls on the Government to Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con): protect vital BBC music services from cuts during charter During the charter renewal negotiations, will the Secretary renewal. Despite numerous briefings to the press about of State bear in mind the level of support for decriminalising wanting to cut the BBC down to size and reports that non-payment of the TV licence fee across the country Radio 1 and Radio 2 will be sold off, the Secretary of and across the House? Some 150 colleagues from all State told the audience that he would be “very willing” parties, including the hon. Members for Islington North to sign the petition. I hope that he has done so. Given (Jeremy Corbyn) and for Hayes and Harlington (John his new-found enthusiasm for the BBC, will he use this McDonnell), signed my early-day motion that called for opportunity to sign up to another vital characteristic—the decriminalisation. BBC is and must be a great universal broadcaster that produces something for everyone? Will he make that Mr Whittingdale: I am aware of my hon. Friend’s promise? work in supporting the campaign for the decriminalisation Mr Whittingdale: One thing I do not want to do is of non-payment of the licence fee. I understand the reach conclusions on every question contained in the strength of opinion on the subject on both sides of the Green Paper before we have even started going through House. We are looking at it carefully. However, as he all the consultation. [Interruption.] I did express my will know, David Perry conducted a thorough review of support for music on the BBC, but we are looking the issue and came up with a number of important carefully at all the responses that have been received. I concerns that would need to be addressed if we were to share the hon. Lady’s view that the BBC is a great go down that road. broadcaster, and it is my intention that it should remain that way. Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Lab): I share Creative Industries the sentiments expressed about Michael Meacher. He was, 30 years ago, the first Member of Parliament I ever 2. Alex Chalk (Cheltenham) (Con): What recent met. estimate he has made of the contribution of the In a very interesting speech to the Society of Editors creative industries to the economy. [901723] this week, the Secretary of State said, with respect to the BBC’s intention to help local news, that it should The Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy not employ more journalists, but should commission (Mr Edward Vaizey): I am delighted to tell the House content from court reporting, councils and the like.