Communications Bill
Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)
Before we start, I have had a conversation with Mr. Atkinson about progress on the Bill in general and S4C in particular. My understanding, which is confirmed by the Official Report, is that we have had a wide-ranging debate about S4C. Therefore, hon. Members should not be surprised if I confine debate tightly to the amendments this morning. I do not propose to allow a re-run of Tuesday's debate.
Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield, Conservative)
On a point of order, Mr. Gale. Last night, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport said in Oxford that she wishes the BBC to be under tighter controls than at present and that an independent body should conduct a full review of the value for money of the licence fee. Given that the Government rejected the Opposition's suggestions that the BBC should come under Ofcom—just such an independent body—can we revisit the issue?
Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)
Matters arising from the Bill and amendments tabled to it are a subject for the ingenuity of the Committee not the Chair.
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby, Conservative)
On a point of order, Mr. Gale. Together, I suspect, with other hon. Members, I have received a communication from the Electoral Commission about party political broadcasting. We do not operate in a vacuum. The commission recommends changes to legislation. It states:
''We recommend that the proposed duty on OFCOM to determine rules should also include a requirement to establish a committee composed of the broadcasters and sitting under a chairperson who is independent of broadcasters.
We recommend that regulation of the obligation to carry PPBs should be the same for all broadcasters, and that the BBC and the Welsh Authority (S4C) be brought within the scope of OFCOM for this purpose.''
I understand that the matter is not one for you to rule on, Mr. Gale, but have you heard whether the Government are likely to make a statement on the recommendation, which is germane to our debate on this part of the Bill?
Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)
The straight answer is no, I have had no such information. We shall debate clauses and amendments relating to the matter later in the Bill.Clause 199 Welsh Authority's function of providing S4C and S4C Digital