BBC AND RESOURCES LTD

Early day motion 1367, tabled 1 June 1998 by Ann Cryer (Labour). Signed by 54 members.

That this House expresses its grave concern at the BBC's proposals to hive-off with effect from 1st July, a substantial part of its operations, including 4,500 staff, into a separate limited company, Resources Ltd; confirms its strong support for the BBC as the United Kingdom's leading public service broadcaster and its opposition to the break-up of the Corporation; notes the advice from BECTU - the trade union representing the staff involved - that the creation of Resources Ltd is totally unnecessary as long as the Corporation continues its present transparent accounting procedures; and calls on the Government to ask the BBC immediately to reconsider this legally unnecessary and culturally unwelcome decision.

Signatures by party: Labour 43, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 3, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.