§ Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what research has been(a) undertaken by and (b) evaluated by his Department to establish if it is (i) cheaper or (ii) more expensive for the BBC to produce a programme in-house or to commission it from independent producers; and if he will arrange for this research to be published. [26778]
§ Mr. DorrellNone. The BBC must determine the most cost-effective way of commissioning and making programmes, and how it meets the statutory obligation to commission 25 per cent. of its qualifying output from the independent sector. My Department is, however, concerned with the wider question of the efficiency of the broadcasting sector, including the BBC and independent producers, in the context of helping the industry to improve its international competitiveness.