PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Public Service Broadcasting Contestable Fund - 14 September 2017 (Commons/Commons Chamber)
Debate Detail
Contributions from Sir John Whittingdale, are highlighted with a yellow border.
Mr John Whittingdale
Maldon
4. What progress her Department has made on establishing a public service broadcasting contestable fund.
09:45:21
Matt Hancock
The Minister for Digital
As part of the BBC charter review, the first part of which took place under my right hon. Friend’s wise leadership, the Government committed to establish a pilot for a new contestable fund. The Government’s consultation closed earlier this year, and we will publish the response and the next steps in due course.
09:46:00
Mr Whittingdale
While I recognise the BBC’s huge contribution to public service broadcasting, does the Minister agree that some TV genres are underserved and that a public service broadcasting contestable fund could increase competition and innovation? Will he confirm that the Government intend to go ahead with a pilot in due course?
09:46:11
Matt Hancock
Yes, I agree with everything my right hon. Friend said, and I can confirm that that pilot will be going ahead.
09:46:44
Mr Barry Sheerman
Huddersfield
I love the BBC, even though Sarah Sands, the new editor of the “Today” programme, and Nick Robinson seem to be destroying that programme at the moment. I therefore start with a prejudice, but when I look at the sort of deals that have always been favoured by Conservative Members who want to privatise by the back door, I see MediaCom, Singapore and the black hand of international companies such as the Murdoch empire.
Matt Hancock
I normally think the hon. Gentleman is sensible, but today he seems to have avoided that. The contestable fund is about ensuring that we have a great diversity of success in broadcasting in our nation. As for the “Today” programme, I thought Nick Robinson’s broadcasts from Silicon Valley yesterday were superb. They were all about the interesting changes that are going on in the world and the economy due to artificial intelligence and digital. I thought that was another excellent direction for the BBC to be taking.
Mr Speaker
Stella Creasy? Not here. I call Kelvin Hopkins.
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