Contributions
162 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sMy hon. Friend makes exactly the same point that was made emphatically to me by a very good friend and constituent of mine. The BBC operates in a tough commercial environment. To…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI am grateful to the shadow Minister for setting the record straight in terms of who voted for what and when, but the point is that Parliament passed this measure into law through…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI will in a minute, but I am still answering the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant), because the point he raised was rather moot. Let me address some of the other aspects of…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI do not necessarily agree that older people do not have that choice. I agree that many older people rely on the BBC more than any other channel—that is probably true—but older…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI take issue with the hon. Gentleman’s asking whether the BBC could find something better to do with the money. Opposition Members have been full of reasons why it would be…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sMy right hon. Friend the Member for Maldon has just reminded me that it is a decision for the BBC to make. I am sure that the BBC has listened to the hon. Lady and others across…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sAs I said to the hon. Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle), it is a concession taken off the charge that everybody pays to the BBC, so it was thought fitting for the BBC…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sIt is important to see the decision that was made in the wider context of the licence fee agreement that was settled in 2015. It included several plus-points for the BBC that it…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. I will not get involved— [ Interruption. ]08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI acknowledge that the manifesto commitment was made, but draw the hon. Gentleman’s attention to the fact that Parliament had already voted in favour of passing responsibility to…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI will just make a bit of progress and then I will give way again. The BBC consultation set out a number of options for the future of the concession and it set out that the BBC…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI shall make some progress, then give way in a few moments. As the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport set out a couple of months ago, the BBC is a powerful…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sThe key point is that in November 2016, the House passed the Digital Economy Act, including the important element that passed responsibility for the concession to the BBC.08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI will give way to the hon. Gentleman behind the shadow Secretary of State. [ Interruption. ] I will just give way to each Member.08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI want to make a bit of progress, because I know that many hon. Members want to speak in the debate. The BBC’s brilliant public service and the role that it plays for older people…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI agree strongly with my hon. Friend. He makes a very good point. That is why I am encouraged by Ofcom’s decision to loosen some of the controls under which the BBC has laboured,…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI thank the hon. Lady for her intervention. I agree that watching television is a real way of combating loneliness for a lot of people, particularly older people, who live on…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his intervention. I am sure that the BBC will listen to those comments, with which I have considerable sympathy. This was part of a fair deal…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI have already answered that question in other ways, but I draw the hon. Gentleman’s attention to the fact that no decision has yet been made. I was saying to the hon. Member for…08 May 2019HANSARDTV Licences for Over-75sI will give way in just a moment. From its impartial news and current affairs coverage of the day’s events to its wide-ranging radio content, the BBC provides something for…08 May 2019