HC Deb 24 November 1994 vol 250 cc263-4W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of state for National Heritage if his Department will consider the status of independent producers within the BBC's programme commissioning procedure in the forthcoming legislation on the future of the BBC.

Mr. Dorrell

Under the terms of the Broadcasting Act 1990, the BBC is required to commission 25 per cent. of its qualifying television output from independent production companies. There are at present no plans to change this requirement. The BBC's commissioning procedure is a matter for the BBC.