FINES AND THE BBC

Early day motion 894, tabled 25 February 2009 by John Austin (Labour). Signed by 20 members.

That this House notes that under the Broadcasting and Communications Acts, Ofcom has the power to fine licensees for breaches of a code or licence terms and that these monies are passed to the UK Exchequer and form part of general Government income; further notes that the Government argues that the regulatory regime for the BBC should be comparable to that for other broadcasters; recognises that broadcasters are responsible and should be accountable for what is broadcast on their channels but considers that the ability to impose fines on the BBC is inappropriate given that the BBC is mainly funded by television licence revenue; believes that this punishes licence fee payers rather than those responsible; and calls on the Government to consider alternative sanctions in the case of the BBC.

Signatures by party: Labour 16, Conservative 1, Liberal Democrat 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.