PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
BBC AND RESOURCES LTD (8 June 1998)

leave out from 'the' to end and add 'failure by the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport to approve the proposed restructuring agreed by the management of the BBC on 19th February 1998 to incorporate the majority of the BBC Resources business units into a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BBC, BBC Resources Ltd; regrets that this failure to come to a decision by the Secretary of State has exacerbated an industrial dispute at the BBC involving the BECTU trade union, and regrets the disruption to BBC broadcasts that this dispute has caused; notes that the proposals to safeguard the future of BBC Resources are reasonable and in the best interests of staff programme makers and licence payers, believes that the BBC has the right to expect the unequivocal support of the Secretary of State in the face of unacceptable demands, strike action, and outrageous threats by the technicians' union; and calls on the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to approve the changes proposed by the BBC governors to put the BBC Resources business on a stable foundation for future success.'.

Sponsored by:
Mr Peter Ainsworth (Conservative)