British Broadcasting Corporation

HC Deb 30 November 1978 vol 959 cc344-5W

19. Mr.Madden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Deoartment when he intends next to meet the chairman of the BBC.

Mr.Merlyn Rees:

I have no immediate plans to do so.

Mr. Paul Dean

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will establish an inquiry into alternative methods of financing the British Broadcasting Corporation instead of the television licence fee, to consider such alternative as financing from advertising or Government grants or a combination of both.

Mr. Merlyn Rees:

The financing of the BBC was considered in the report of the Annan committee on the future of broadcasting (Cmnd 6753) and the Government's conclusions were set out in the White Paper on broadcasting (Cmnd. 7294). A further inquiry is unnecessary at present.