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Andy Burnham : My right hon. Friend is describing the broad policy context in which the BBC operates. The future of the BBC will in part be shaped by the future of ITV and she will know that today ITV announced a 57 per cent. increase in profits. She will also know that during the recent Ofcom review of public service obligations, Members were given a clear commitment
 
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about regional programming, so does she share my shock at the revelation that ITV plans to axe the Sunday politics programme from its autumn schedule?

Tessa Jowell: I cannot deal with the specific programme decision to which my hon. Friend refers, but I can put on the record, in the strongest possible terms, the House's agreement to ITV's public service broadcasting obligations. ITV has clear obligations in relation to regional broadcasting and the whole House will expect the company to stand by them.

Mr. Evans: As a north-west MP, too, I stress the importance of the ITV regional politics programme to us. Although we cannot expect the Minister to give us an answer about the security of that programme in the future, the "Sunday Supplement" could at least tell its viewers that the company believes in regional broadcasting and that it has a social obligation to ensure that politics in the north-west is given fair air time in the Granada region. The viewers should be told on Sunday that the future of the programme is assured.

Tessa Jowell: The hon. Gentleman is right. I hope that ITV and the regulator, who oversees compliance with the public service broadcasting obligation, will have heard both those interventions.

Time is short, so I shall quickly go through the remainder of my concluding remarks. The role of the BBC in not acting in a gratuitously competitive way in relation to other broadcasters is an important part of retaining plurality in broadcasting. The new regime set out in the Green Paper provides clear strictures, including service licences, fining and the window of creative competition, to constrain what has, in the past, been unacceptably predatory competitive behaviour by the BBC. I underline my support for the comments made by several Members about the important contribution of the independent sector. The BBC licence fee should be seen as venture capital for creativity in this nation. There are great possibilities, as yet underdeveloped, for the independent sector to make a contribution.

Three models for changes to governance were set out in the Green Paper: the BBC's preferred model, which relied on behaviour change; the Burns panel model which envisaged a plc structure that was Higgs-compliant; and the model we opted for, which is a BBC-specific solution—the BBC trust. The House should understand the radical nature of both the change and the challenge that it poses the BBC. The model deals with the unsustainability of the present position, whereby the governors of the BBC are both its cheerleaders and its regulators, but it does something else as well. It sets out the accountability of the BBC trust and its members to the licence fee payer. That is explicit. It was only after careful consideration of the Select Committee's alternative recommendation that we reached that conclusion.

The final point in deciding on the governance model we chose was to secure the strength and independence of the BBC—not to create a model that moved the BBC nearer to the Government but one that brought it closer to the licence fee payer. There has been considerable
 
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discussion of the licence fee in the debate. The licence fee will fund the BBC for the next 10 years but with two important break points. The first will be to determine its level. The second relates to alternative models of funding in the knowledge of the impact of switchover and whether licence fee payments should be used to ensure plurality in public service broadcasting.

The structure that we have proposed and the options we have considered provide the BBC with the strength and flexibility to meet the great challenges it will face over the next 10 years. Most of all, the confidence and faith held in the BBC by its licence fee payers recall the founding Reithian values—the BBC's role to educate, inform and entertain. I would summarise that as being a good example of traditional values in a modern setting—

It being three hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion, Madam Deputy Speaker put the Question necessary to dispose of proceedings, pursuant to Standing Order No.54 (5) (Consideration of estimates) and Order [7 March].

Resolved,

Madam Deputy Speaker proceeded to put forthwith the Questions relating to Estimates which she was directed to put at that hour, pursuant to Standing Order No. 55 (1) and (3) (Questions on voting of estimates, &c.) and Order [7 March].

ESTIMATES, 2005–06 (NAVY) VOTE A

Resolved,

ESTIMATES, 2005–06 (ARMY) VOTE A

Resolved,

ESTIMATES, 2005–06 (AIR) VOTE A

Resolved,


 
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ESTIMATES, EXCESSES, 2003–04

Resolved,

SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES, 2004–05

Resolved,

Ordered,

CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION) BILL

Mr. Stephen Timms accordingly presented a Bill to authorise the use of resources for the service of the years ending with 31st March 2004 and 31st March 2005 and to apply certain sums out of the Consolidated Fund to the service of the years ending with 31st March 2004 and 31st March 2005; and to appropriate the supply authorised in this Session of Parliament for the service of the years ending with 31st March 2004 and 31st March 2005: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a Second time tomorrow, and to be printed. Explanatory notes to be printed. [Bill 81].


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