Contributions
676 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD BBC FundingAs I have said on a number of occasions, we have been having these discussions for months. In fact, my predecessor had the discussions before me. Legally, I have to make an…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingI thank my hon. Friend for that contribution and for his contribution to the Department when he was there. He is absolutely right: it is not about whether we have our great…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingThe hon. Gentleman talks about £159, but the BBC wanted it to project to £180. This is one of the levers that we have in Government to help hard-working families, given the…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingWell, it is not for me to decide, so we have to— [ Interruption. ] It is not for me to decide until I have all the information and all the evidence.17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingAs I said, when the new model starts in 2027-28, many of us may not even be here—we are talking six years away. I welcome the hon. Gentleman’s contribution and look forward to his…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingNo.17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingThat is the point of discussion. I have said again and again that this is about how we protect the BBC and how we ensure that, under the present agreement and settlement, it can…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingThat is a very important point. Everything needs to be considered in the round: all the elements of the BBC’s reach, everything that it does and everything that it achieves. That…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingI did not hear the second part of the hon. Gentleman’s question, but what I would say is: what is wrong with playing “God Save the Queen”? [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear!”] What is…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingThat vital role of the BBC moving forward is one of the issues that we have to ensure we protect, along with the British content that we make, as I have said. The fact is that the…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingIncreasing access to private equity was one of the first steps towards doing that.17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingI thank my hon. Friend and am happy to have such a meeting. For five years S4C had no increase in its funding, and it was high time that it did, given that the BBC has had…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingI have made no announcement other than to say that we are starting a discussion about the future funding of the BBC. I am here to make a statement on the licence fee settlement,…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingS4C will receive a further £7.5 million per annum from the licence fee to support its digital investment. In total, S4C will be provided with approximately £88 million in…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingThere is no policy; we are just starting a discussion and a debate. This is not based on whether people can achieve streaming or not, but 100% of households achieving superfast…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingI thank my hon. Friend for his comments and support on the freeze, but I take issue with the point about paucity of broadband. Some 97% of homes in the UK have superfast…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingI do not set the budgets for the BBC’s investigative programmes; the BBC does.17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingI have no idea how anyone could make the leap from “let’s have a debate and a discussion in the House about how the future funding looks” to “privatisation”. It’s just—I have no…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingThe decision on what the future funding model looks like is for discussion. Some of us may not even be here by the time 2028 arrives, but it is up for discussion, and that is what…17 Jan 2022HANSARD BBC FundingMy instincts are let’s start the discussion. Let’s have a look at the— [Interruption.] That is what I am starting, Mr Speaker—unless, of course, Members of the House would just…17 Jan 2022