Monday 13 July, 4.30pm,
Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
MPs will question Culture Secretary as part of the Culture,
Media and Sport Committee's BBC Royal Charter Review
inquiry.
The committee has heard from a range of witnesses over the past
couple of months as part of its work examining the future of the
corporation and how it should be governed, regulated and funded
over the next decade and beyond.
The session will give MPs the opportunity to put points heard so
far to the Secretary of State, before the committee makes its
recommendations after the summer recess as to what the new
Charter, due to come into effect in 2028, should look like.
There are likely to be a wide range of topics discussed,
including the government's stance on the future of the licence
fee and the case for moving to alternative funding models. The
government indicated in its consultation paper
that it was not considering replacing the licence fee with
alternative forms of public funding.
The Secretary of State is also likely to be asked about the
services the BBC should provide as a public service broadcaster,
the importance of independence from government and the
corporation's strategy to succeed in the world of digital media.
There could also be questions about the BBC's public purposes,
its role in tackling disinformation and misinformation, and the
case for a permanent Charter.
On Wednesday this week, the committee took
evidence from new BBC Director-General Matt Brittin and Chair
Samir Shah.
