Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Accepted
Communicate clearly how 'Across the UK' initiatives will enhance local community representation and sustain trust.
Conclusion
The BBC is a trusted institution but its relevance across the UK is under pressure. While the economic benefits of the “Across the UK” programme moving production outside of London are now clearly quantified, in response to this Committee’s past recommendations, there remain gaps in how well different audiences feel represented. The BBC highlighted steps it has taken, including, for example, relocating the Asian Network to Birmingham and commissioning content set in Scotland and Yorkshire. However, audience data shows that some groups—across nations, regions and socio-demographic lines—remain less engaged and feel less reflected in BBC content. We are also concerned that decisions labelled as “local”, such as moving operations to Manchester or Birmingham, risk overlooking the identity and needs of smaller communities, especially in radio, where consolidation has widened geographic footprints and reduced local specificity. Reforms such as the restructuring of regional news hubs and changes to the Local Democracy Reporting Service may have unintentionally diluted the BBC’s connection with the communities it aims to serve. recommendation As part of its response to this report, and in its Annual Report and Accounts, the BBC should clearly communicate how its Across the UK programmes and other initiatives will lead to better representation of the UK’s local communities, to sustain trust and relevance in the future. 5 1 Collecting the licence fee Introduction
Government Response Summary
The BBC agreed, explaining that its 'Across the UK' programme has already moved significant network programming and commissioning outside London to improve audience portrayal and diversity of voice, and it intends to build on these existing plans.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The BBC agrees with the recommendation. publication, and to expand further in subsequent years. The BBC welcomes the view of the Committee that it has responded to its past recommendations and that the key benefits of the programme are now clearly quantified. The BBC has responded in full to the Committee’s previous recommendations. Improving the audience portrayal is one of the key driving forces and benefits of the Across the UK programme. To date, the BBC has moved significant network programming and commissioning to the devolved nations and regions of England. The BBC believes that this has led to a greater diversity of voice and perspective in its content, representing more regions from across the UK, as well as investment in regional creative economies. The BBC intends to build on this as it develops its future plans. The BBC has also increased the level of content commissioning from the Nations and Regions for Network services which has ensured greater representation of all parts of the UK on BBC services. In December 2025, the BBC announced it will reprioritise its budget to double investment in portrayal content from 2027/28. Improving audience portrayal and relevance is a long-term process, but the BBC is encouraged by early improvements in the Midlands and across the North of England as noted by the Committee. It has seen audiences to Nations’ content grow as the portrayal commissioning builds in its impact and value. However, there is further work to do to ensure that the BBC increases its relevance, reach and impact across every Nation and Region in the UK. The BBC will use audience measurement developed as part of the Across the UK programme to inform future commissioning priorities and decision-making, as well as the BBC’s corporate priorities in the longer-term. The BBC has also announced in December 2025 that it plans to move more Commissioners to bases across the UK. The BBC can commit to sharing further information on an annual basis as part of the BBC Annual Report and Accounts which identifies the level of investment in its content from the Nations and Regions of the UK as well as audience data. The BBC notes the Committee’s comments on changes within BBC Local and the importance of smaller communities staying connected to the BBC. While the BBC Local strategy differs from Across the UK: Local Value for All, both share the goal of improving audience performance and ensuring BBC content remains relevant to all licence fee payers. The BBC recognises that change can be challenging, particularly as content evolves to meet shifting audience habits in a digital world. All Local Radio stations continue to provide bespoke weekday Breakfast and Mid-Morning programmes - where audiences are strongest - alongside local news bulletins and sports coverage. The BBC remains fully committed to serving local communities and strengthening the performance of its services. Treasury Minutes Archive1 Treasury Minutes are the Government’s response to reports from the Committee of Public Accounts. Treasury Minutes are Command Papers laid in Parliament. Session 2024-26 Committee Recommendations: 452 Recommendations agreed: 428 (95%) Recommendations disagreed: 24 Publication Date PAC Reports Ref Number April 2025 Government response to PAC reports 1-4, 6-9 CP 1306 May 2025 Government response to PAC reports 5,10-17 CP 1328 June 2025 Government response to PAC reports 18-22 CP 1341 July 2025 Government response to PAC reports 23-26 CP 1367 August 2025 Government response to PAC reports 27-34 CP 1382 September 2025 Government response to PAC reports 35-42 CP 1404 December 2025 Government response to PAC reports 43-46 48 and 49 CP 1469 January 2026 Government response to PAC reports 50-55 (and 56 BBC) CP 1488 Session 2023-24 Committee Recommendations: 271 Recommendations agreed: 252 (93%) Recommendations disagreed: 19 Publication Date PAC Reports Ref Number February 2024 Government response to PAC reports 1-6 [80 Session 22-23] CP 1029 March 2024 Government response to PAC reports 7-11 CP 1057 April 2024 Government response to PAC reports 12-18 CP 1070 May 2024 Government response to PAC reports 19-24 CP 1085 September 2024 Government response to PAC reports 26-29, 31, 33-38 CP 1151 October 2024 Government response to PAC reports 25, 26, 30 and 32 CP 1174 Session 2022-23 Committee Recommendations: 551 Recommendations agreed: 489 (89%) Recommendations disagreed: 62 Publication Date PAC Reports Ref Number July 2022 Government response to PAC reports 1, 3 & 10 CP 722 August 2022 Government response to PAC reports 2, 4-8 CP 708 September 2022 Government response to PAC reports 9, 13-16 CP 745 November 2022 Government response to PAC reports 11, 12, 17 CP 755 December 2022 Government response to PAC reports 18-22 CP 774 January 2023 Government response to PAC reports 23-26 CP 781 February 2023 Government response to PAC reports 27-31 CP 802 1 List of Treasury Minutes responses for Sessions 2010-15 are annexed in the gove