MPs to question BBC on licence fee settlement
9 November 2010
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee will take evidence on the new BBC licence fee settlement next month. Mark Thompson, Director-General, and Sir Michael Lyons, Chairman of the BBC Trust, will appear before MPs on December 15
Background
On 20 October, the Government announced that it had "struck a deal" with the BBC to "ensure that it, too, makes its contribution, as a publicly funded organisation, to savings during the spending review". The Committee's evidence session will examine this deal.
John Whittingdale, Chair of the Committee said:
"This settlement has huge ramifications for the BBC, yet it was concluded in an unprecedentedly short period of time, with no opportunity for wider consultation.
Despite its significance for the BBC and viewers, Parliament has had almost no opportunity to date for scrutiny.
This session with the BBC Trust and the BBC will provide the opportunity for detailed scrutiny that the settlement requires, so that Parliament – and most importantly licence fee payers – can reach an informed decision on whether this is a good deal for all concerned."