Television Licence Fee (Hansard, 10 July 2000)

§ 16. Mr. Hilary Benn (Leeds, Central)
If he will make a statement on the future level of the television licence fee. [128212]

§ The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. Chris Smith)
The licence fee rose by inflation plus 1.5 per cent. on 1 April this year and will rise by the same amount each year until 2006–07, when the current royal charter runs out. That additional funding will enable the 620 BBC to provide a strong and distinctive schedule of benchmark quality programmes on all its services and should help to drive the take-up of new digital and online services.

§ Mr. Benn
In view of my right hon. Friend's reply to an earlier question about the future governance of the BBC, what lessons has he drawn from the "News at Ten" affair about appropriate frameworks for governance, given that in that case we had a regulatory body that was separate from the companies producing the programmes?

§ Mr. Smith
The lessons are, of course, the same as relate to any regulation of broadcasting, particularly television—that is, that it must have a robust independence from Government but must be based on firm and clear principles set out in the founding legislation passed by this Parliament.

§ Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove)
Is the Secretary of State aware that many people view their television licence fee as too high, especially in view of the amount of money given to the Prime Minister's friend in the form of salary and pension pay-off? The BBC might enjoy more public acceptance if it complied better with service requirements for subtitling for deaf people. What plans does he have, in the context of the licence fee, to improve subtitling on the BBC, which presently lags behind that provided by the ITV network?

§ Mr. Smith
The BBC retains the strong affection and respect of the vast majority of people. It is watched or listened to by well over 90 per cent. of the country every week. On the specific question about subtitling, I have already, as part of the announcement that I made to the House following the Government's response to the Davies report, set in place new and more stringent targets for the BBC to meet, especially under digital terrestrial broadcasting.