Debate on the future of the BBC
21 October 2013
On Monday 21 October, MPs took part in a general debate on the future of the BBC. This debate was chosen by the Backbench Business Committee following representations from Alun Cairns, Steve Brine and Dame Angela Watkinson.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
The debate on the future of the BBC was opened by Alun Cairns.
Watch the debate on Parliament TV and read the views expressed by MPs in Commons Hansard.
- Watch Parliament TV: General debate on the future of the BBC.
- Read Commons Hansard: General debate on the future of the BBC.
How the subject was selected
The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee following representations by Alun Cairns, Steve Brine and Dame Angela Watkinson at the Committee’s public meeting on 15 October 2013.
- Parliament TV: Backbench Business Committee on 15 October 2013
- Uncorrected transcript of oral evidence heard on 15 October 2013
Backbench Business Committee
The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays at 3pm to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject, including those raised in e-petitions or national campaigns.
An MP must make a representation before the Committee for an e-petition or petition to be debated; e-petitions exceeding the Government's 100,000 signature threshold are not automatically allocated backbench time.
The Committee then has to decide how to allocate the limited Parliamentary time it has at its disposal. The Committee's meetings are always conducted in public and can be watched on Parliament TV.