REFUGEE FIGURES, BBC AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

Early day motion 149, tabled 7 June 2016 by Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 18 members.

That this House notes the Home Office figures showing the number of Syrian refugees taken in by the UK under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme; further notes that Wales has taken in just 78 refugees compared to England's 863 and Scotland's 610; regrets that the Welsh Government refused a request from BBC Wales for a comment; expresses concern that the BBC, in response to the Welsh Government's refusal, decided not to run any response from any political party, without reporting the Welsh Government's refusal to provide a comment; believes that the BBC should act as a public service broadcaster, not a state broadcaster; and calls for the BBC Charter review to make it clear that the BBC is not beholden to any particular government, that it has a duty to report opposition parties' views irrespective of any government's wilful stonewalling, and that it should uphold the traditional Welsh principle of Rhydd i bawb ei farn ac i bob barn ei llafar, that is, all have a right to their opinion and a right to make that opinion known.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 13, Plaid Cymru 3, DUP 1, Independent 1.