Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 29
56th Report - BBC Accounts and Trust Statement 2024–25
Published 21 Nov 2025
Addressed to HM Treasury
Public Accounts Committee BBC Accounts and Trust Statement 2024-25 All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
On Across the UK, we drew attention to a prior Public Accounts Committee finding in 2024 that the BBC had “begun implementing its programme without a clear plan and could not readily explain the expected impact and benefits for licence fee payers,” and invited the BBC to set out its plan and benefits.69 The BBC told us the plan was to move £700 million of spend out of London, with a forecast of £830 million by 2027–28, and £412 million already moved, and more than 400 FTEs relocated. It also reported that 61% of network TV spend was now outside London, and network audio spend was at 46% (on track for 50% by 2027–28), alongside delivery of 100 scripted titles, including 20 in the nations.70 On outcomes, the BBC said it was tracking two benefit streams: audience perception, and regional economic impact. It cited an uptick in audience engagement in the north of England as output had shifted, and highlighted an expected £282 million GVA over a decade in the West Midlands, supported by formal partnership agreements with local authorities and clustering in Digbeth.71
From: Public Accounts Committee, 56th Report - BBC Accounts and Trust Statement 2024–25 (HC 1230), 21 November 2025
Government response
Latest Treasury Minutes progress report to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fifty-sixth Report of Session 2024-26
The government responded to the whole report on 4 June 2026 (deadline 21 January 2026).
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fifty-sixth report from Session 2024-26
Published 19 January 2026.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The BBC's response agrees with some recommendations, partially agrees with others and disagrees with the recommendation to report on targets for reducing "no-licence needed" declarations and evasion.
- On licence fee collection, the BBC agrees with modernising collection and enforcement for online viewing, but says it is not "currently practical to set a firm timeline".
- It disagrees with reporting progress against targets for "no-licence needed" declarations and evasion, saying "an evasion target is not considered appropriate" and a target for NLNs would not be appropriate.
- On digital licences, the BBC agrees and "will consider the regulatory aspects and practicalities" of making an e-licence the default, with an update in the Licence Fee Trust Statement for 2025/26.
- On commercial returns, the BBC partially agrees, saying it "will ensure" BBC Commercial's overall returns including dividends are published annually in its Annual Report and Accounts, with a target date of 2026.