PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
BBC JOB CUTS (23 May 2005)

That this House welcomes the decision of the BBC to meet unions for talks organised by Acas in a bid to break the deadlock which led to strike action by some BBC staff; acknowledges the role of the staff in helping the BBC excel as the world's leading public service broadcaster; recognises that the BBC has a duty to deliver best value for money to licence fee payers; regrets that necessary reforms will require some job cuts; notes the BBC's pledge last December that the £320m of efficiency savings will be redirected into programme-making; urges the BBC to expend every effort in helping staff whose posts will go by re-training them for the new jobs that will be created by the promised new programming; and hopes that the Acas talks will find a solution that means that further strike action is averted.

Sponsored by:
Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat)