§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he expects to be the effect of the licence fee settlement on employment in the BBC; and if any estimate has been provided to him of job losses.
§ Mr. Giles ShawAs my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary made clear when he announced the new television licence fees on 27 March — columns 479–481 — the licence fee settlement should allow the BBC to maintain its present level and range of services while its ability to enhance its services will depend very largely on the degree to which it achieves improvements in efficiency. It is for the corporation to decide how to use the money available to it, and we have neither seen nor asked for estimates of the likely level of staffing following the settlement.