HC Deb 02 November 1999 vol 337 c148W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the proposal for a £24 licence supplement for BBC digital television. [96311]

Janet Anderson

In its report published on 5 August, the independent review panel on the future funding of the BBC has recommended that the Government should introduce, from next April, a digital licence supplement at the level of £1.99 a month (falling to 99p a month in 2006). A period of public consultation on the panel's recommendations has just concluded. The Government will consider all those recommendations in the light of the responses received and hopes to reach final decisions around the end of this year.