§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what further arrangements will be made for(a) public and (b) parliamentary debate on the future of the BBC charter. [7136]
§ Mr. Sproat[holding answer 19 December 1995]: There has already been substantial debate on the future of the BBC. The Government's consultation document was published in November 1992 and received some 6,600 responses. In the light of those, the Government set out their proposals in a White Paper "The future of the BBC: Serving the nation, Competing world-wide" which generated comments from some 200 individuals and organisations and which was debated in both Houses. On 27 November, the Government published the BBC's draft charter and agreement, designed to put into effect the policies set out in the White Paper. Both Houses of Parliament will have an opportunity to debate these documents when parliamentary business allows and before they come into effect.