Future of the BBC: Lords debate

Lord Fowler (Conservative) will open the debate. He chairs the Lords Communications Committee which is investigating the British film and television industries. He also chaired the Lords Select Committee on the BBC Charter Review in 2005-6.

Other speakers who sit on the Communications Committee include: Lord Maxton (Labour), Baroness Howe of Idlicote (Crossbench) and Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat), a former BBC producer.

The debate is likely to refer to Lord Carter’s Digital Britain report published in June this year which looked at the Government’s strategy for broadband and digital content, including that of the BBC.

The debate will also include contributions from:

• Lord Harrison (Labour), who recently held a Lords debate about the representation of humanism on the BBC.
• Lord McNally, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Lords, who sat on the Draft Communications Bill Committee in 2002 which looked at broadcasting regulation.
• Lord Howard of Rising (Conservative), Opposition spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport.

Lord Haskel, Lord Roberts of Llandudno and the Bishops of Liverpool and Southwark are also scheduled to speak. Lord Davies of Oldham will speak on behalf of the Government.

Further information

• List of speakers - Lords Government Whips Office (external site)
• Video & Audio - watch the debate live
• Lords Hansard - transcript available approximately three hours from the start of the debate
• Alphabetical list of Members of the Lords
• Parliamentary calendar