Select committee: Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 19
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Published 27 Oct 2023
Paragraph 111
Addressed to Wales Office
Welsh Affairs Committee Broadcasting in Wales All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The current UK Community Radio Fund is too restrictive and does not allow small community radio stations to spend funding where they best feel it is needed. We recommend that the Government amends the restrictions on where funding from the Community Radio Fund can be spent, allowing community radio stations greater flexibility to spend the funds where it will be of greatest use.
From: Welsh Affairs Committee, Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales (HC 620), paragraph 111, 27 October 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 22 January 2024 (deadline 11 January 2024).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the report and points to its Media Bill, while declining several recommendations, including a full review of the listed events list and a formal review of the Apprenticeship Levy.
- On the BBC and S4C partnership, it says it "would not be appropriate for the Government to oversee individual partnerships", but "agrees" they should maintain one suited to the evolving landscape. Through the Media Bill it is legislating so that fewer than 10 hours may be agreed, and if no agreement is reached "the current requirement of 10 hours will continue".
- On listed sporting events, it states it has "no plans to undertake a full review of the list" and does not think it "appropriate for Ofcom to have the ability to amend the list of events".
- On community radio funding, it says any increase to the base level of the Fund "will need to be considered in the context of wider economic conditions at the next Spending Review". It considers that retaining a focus on long-term sustainability "remains appropriate" for how the Fund is spent.
- On the licence fee, the government is "launching a review of the licence fee funding model", led by DCMS, which "will also consider the funding arrangements of Welsh and other Minority Language Broadcasting provided by the BBC".