Live BBC Board Committee Select Committees

By only criticism is, it would have been better to do it and then

concluded what financial settlement was appropriate for the BBC. We

actually did it the other way round. And it is hard to comment on it.

One was the recent board Hoddle blunder and accepted what the

Government wanted ultimately. The previous board threatened

resignation and the Government backed off. So it's very important

that we should know how tough a BBC Chair would be in dealing with the

government, because it has financial indications. For example, I've been

told that the BBC now plans, as a result of this financial settlement

and the limitations of it, to scrap Radio 2 overnight broadcasting

completely. Which of course is a very big deal. They're just going to

run repeats. And that is because of these cuts. So it will have a real

effect on programme making. Well, you want to know what my attitude

will be. The next occasion this is going to arise is in 2022. The

licence fee will come up for renewal. The charter requires a much

better process, nevertheless in the end it will be for ministers to

determine what it shall be. But we will have a debate, and I think this

committee has a role to play in that, to make sure there is a proper

debate. Nevertheless, I'm clear... That's where we have to leave our

live coverage from the silly committee rooms. You can continue

watching this session online on our website. -- from the select

committee rooms.