BBC Licence Fee Examination

Home secretary David Waddington yesterday affirmed that the BBC’s licence fee increases will be set at less than rises in the RPI after next April. The Home Office is to appoint independent consultants to assess the way in which the Corporation spends its licence fee income. In response to the announcement, BBC director general Michael Checkland complained that the bases for the study “do not leave open the question of what level of finance is needed to provide the range of BBC services outlined…in the broadcasting white paper.”