§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the resolution of the National Assembly for Wales of 16 November concerning the future funding of the BBC; and what response he plans to make. [101646]
§ Janet AndersonWe are currently considering the recommendations of the independent review panel on the future funding of the BBC in the light of the responses to the public consultation and will take the National Assembly for Wales' resolution into account as part of that process. We expect to announce our final decisions in January.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if Pannell Kerr Forster will accept external submissions to their review of the future funding of the BBC; [102418]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that the views of the commercial broadcasting sector will be taken into account in the review of the BBC's funding being undertaken by Pannell Kerr Forster. [102417]
38W
§ Mr. Chris SmithPannell Kerr Forster are carrying out a tightly focused but detailed study of the BBC's finances to give us the information we need to reach a decision on the appropriate level of funding for the BBC up to 2006. It is not part of Pannell Kerr Forster's terms of reference to take account of views submitted in response to the public consultation or to accept external submissions. We will, of course, be taking account of the views of the commercial broadcasting sector, and everyone else who responded to the public consultation, in reaching our conclusions.