§ Mr. PoundTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if, following receipt of the BBC's consultation paper 'A Digital Curriculum', he will776W undertake a public consultation on its proposals; and what criteria he will adopt in deciding whether to give his approval to the BBC's proposals.[138550]
§ Janet AndersonThe BBC has recently carried out a public consultation on its proposed digital curriculum service. If, in the light of the consultation exercise, the Corporation decides that it wishes to proceed with such a service, my right hon. Friend's approval will be required. The Department would at that stage publish the BBC's request and invite representations. Details of the Department's consultation and the criteria we will use in assessing BBC public service proposals are set out in the guidelines "BBC Public Services: Approvals", copies of which were placed in the Library of the House on 21 June. The guidelines are currently being revised and we aim to publish the final version shortly.