Conclusions and recommendations
1. As
we step back to consider our interactions with the BBC over recent
years, we recognise that there are some underlying tensions in
the accountability model for the BBC. In particular we believe
that the British public's view of what level of transparency and
accountability can be expected of a publicly owned and funded
corporation today is different from that currently prevailing
at the BBC, both in the Corporation's management and in the BBC
Trust. We believe that there is a significant 'expectation gap'
between the two, and that this needs to be bridged to provide
a stronger basis for public confidence.
2. The BBC is a public
corporation, editorially independent of government; operating
in a competitive broadcasting market; and generating income and
capital from commercial activities. At the same time it receives
guaranteed public funding provided by Parliament, using taxpayers'
money to deliver editorial and creative freedom from the commercial
constraints faced by other public service and commercial broadcasters.
Yet unlike other publicly funded organisations it is not subject
to the usual expectations of public accountability through independent
audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General, operating on behalf
of Parliament.
3. Audit is not a
cure all. Achieving value for money is in large part about culture
and leadership. But independent audit scrutiny certainly has a
contribution to make, and being subject to review by the Comptroller
and Auditor General, who would decide for himself what to do,
see and report to Parliament, could have a galvanising effect
on the BBC. There is no tension between the BBC's creative and
editorial freedoms and the usual expectations of accountability
to Parliament which go with being a taxpayer-funded organisation.
We firmly believe that the two are essential and entirely compatible.
4. Proper consideration of the BBC's accountability
for its use of public money cannot wait for Charter renewal in
2016. We would like to receive Ministers' views on the reflections
in this Report, and on the adequacy of the current arrangements
for securing proper accountability and value for money for the
BBC's use of public money.
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