Trust to review 5 Live, BBC News Channel

The BBC Trust has announced plans to review the BBC News and BBC Parliament channels, along with Radio 5 Live to judge their impact and value for money.

Under its 2011/12 workplan, the BBC's governing body will review the licences for all three services, following recent similar reviews of Radios 3, 4 and 7.

The BBC News Channel, BBC Parliament and 5 Live will be judged on their distinctiveness and budgetary control, including a full public consultation to gain licence fee payer feedback.

The Trust also intends to review Asian Network, the digital radio station which recently escaped the axe under BBC plans, and the BBC's local radio services in England.

Also under the 2011/12 workplan, the National Audit Office (NAO) has been asked to review the BBC's progress against a five-year efficiency programme, as well as investigate management overheads at the BBC Executive.

The NAO, which audits all the government's accounts, previously produced critical reports on the BBC's spending on a major IT implementation and three building projects in London and Glasgow.

Lord Chris Patten will replace Sir Michael Lyons as chairman of the BBC Trust at the end of April, with BBC trustee Diane Coyle recently being confirmed as his vice-chair.