MPs approve £3 increase in BBC licence fee

chris

David Cameron, the Conservative leader, wanted the licence fee to be frozen at £139.50 – rather than be raised to £142.50 – but he was defeated in a Commons vote.

Mr Cameron had said the proposed £3 increase in the fee was unfair when the country was in a recession.

However, the Tories lost the vote to revoke the Communication Regulation 2009 motion last night. 156 MPs backed the motion but 374 MPs approved the 2 per cent increase in the licence fee.

Although the result of the vote will be a relief to the BBC, it acts as a reminder of the threat they face from an incoming Tory government.

Conservative leaders have said previously they support funding the BBC through the licence fee, although top-slicing would be a possibility under the Tories.

The BBC could be forced to share its licence fee with Channel 4, under recommendations being considered by the Government's Digital Britain report due in June, by technology minister Lord Stephen Carter, which will set out the options facing broadcasters over the next five years.

The BBC Trust, the corporation's governing body, has warned that any reductions in the licence fee, could put services at risk.

Sir Michael Lyons, the head of the Trust, said at speech on Tuesday, the Tory plan was a "recipe for curbing the editorial independence of the BBC".

"It is very important that the BBC's horizons do not become too closely entwined with the political cycle," he added.

Speaking in the debate, Jeremy Hunt, the shadow culture secretary, said: "Some people may say why are we having this debate over a mere £3 per annum increase?

"Partly because this House has learned, over MPs' expenses, that the public get justifiably angry over the misuse of its money – whether large sums or small," he said.

"The BBC needs to maintain its bond of trust with the British people. That means understanding that when times are tough, you don't just pocket the money that was allocated to you in happier times. You listen to people's concerns, and respond to the very changed economic circumstances of 2009."

Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs said the licence fee should not be used "as a political football" and said any calls to reduce the fee would underestimate the independence of the BBC.

Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary said: "The BBC has responsibility to taxpayers that it is adequately not overfunded.

"That is the balance we must alway strike, playing fair by the BBC with sufficient finding and stability so that the BBC can fulfil its charter purposes and paying fair by the licence fee payer so it is good value and affordable, taking into account the prevailing economic circumstance."

Speaking after the vote, John Whittingdale, the chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, said: "Although £3 doesn't seem like a huge amount of money, the BBC cannot be treated in isolation from the rest of broadcasting sector. Every broadcaster is under pressure, and the huge amount of money the BBC enjoys above any other broadcaster is distorting the market."

Don Foster, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on culture, media and sport, said: "The Tories' efforts to undermine the licence fee were little more than a cheap gimmick.

"The licence fee should not be used as a political football in this way as it seriously undermines the independence of the BBC. "

A spokesman for the BBC Trust said: "We welcome the BBC's funding being secured at a level that will allow it to continue to invest in high quality programmes and services. The Trust will ensure that the BBC meets its efficiency targets and continues to maintain downward pressure on all its costs."


Source:telegraph

wod

the bbc should be encrypted or something as people who wanted it should pay a fee to view it

as its stupid you buy a tv and some wont even watch bbc on it but no you have to pay for a licence just because you have a tv

cant say i ever watch anything on bbc so i've got to pay this amount money so i can have my tv and watch the much better range of channels from my dishes.

i mostly watch sky channels as they offer the programs i like as the 142 pound could pay towards this