Last plea to government for 'adequate' licence fee

Representatives from all three political parties, trade unions, voluntary and industry groups have called on the government to agree a licence fee settlement for the BBC.

The meeting, held at the House of Commons on Tuesday, was attended by over 150 people. Organised by Labour MP John Grogan and the Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV), those who attended came to a unanimous agreement on a resolution to call on the government to settle the BBC licence fee at an adequate level, linked to the retail price index.

Representatives from the NUJ, Bectu, Royal National Institute of the Blind, Save Kids TV, The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, the Writers' Guild of Great Britain supported the resolution. The National Campaign for the Arts, playwright Stephen Poliakoff, writer and directors Richard Curtis, and the Churches' Media Council were among those who expressed their support but did not attend the meeting.

Commenting, VLV chairman, Jocelyn Hay said: "If the Government has now decided that the BBC must bear the cost of helping the government to achieve its social policy of switching the UK to digital, and also of moving some BBC departments to Manchester, the Corporation must be allowed adequate funding to do so without impairing its ability to deliver the high quality content that licence fee payers expect."

"Unless this is so, licence fee payers will suffer and so will the national interest," she added.

But broadcasting minister Shaun Woodward confirmed the final decision had not been made by the Cabinet, despite reports saying the government will announce a below inflation 3% rise in the next week.

If Cabinet approval is given, a statement will be made to Parliament and MPs will be asked to endorse it after a debate at a later date.

Before leaving he added: "I cannot believe the BBC actually expected to get what it asked for. It expected the basis of the negotiation to be tough but fair. I think that is what the outcome will achieve."