Final Discussions with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

Book excerpt: The Committee's final report on the BBC Charter Review highlights issues of concern in relation to the Government's White Paper ('A public service for all: the BBC in the digital age', Cm 6763, ISBN 0101676328) published in March 2006. Amongst the issues of concern raised, the Committee recommends that the BBC should be established by statute rather than Royal Charter with greater parliamentary scrutiny of the process for setting the level of the licence fee; and that the National Audit Office should be involved in scrutinising the BBC's bid and have autonomy to undertake other value for money reviews. This final report follows on from two previous Committee reports published in November 2005 on the Government's proposals for the future of the BBC (HLP 50-I, session 2005-06, ISBN 0104007508) and in March 2006 on issues relating to the BBC Charter, including the current bid for the TV licence fee (HLP 128-I, session 2005-06, ISBN 0104008245).