BBC's Reduced Bid is a Drop in the Ocean - Foster

4.47.33pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th Oct 2006

Responding to the BBC's announcement of a modest reduction in its licence fee bid, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary and MP for Bath, Don Foster said:

"I'm pleased that the BBC has found a way to reduce its demands, but a cut of £250 million over seven years is a drop in the ocean. The BBC should publish its latest calculations so that we can all see where and why they need the money.

"It's the Treasury's failure to decide what has to be included in the licence fee that is creating the greatest uncertainty. We still don't know if the BBC will have to pay a 'spectrum charge' or for the cost of helping vulnerable people switch to digital.

"It's equally disturbing that we don't know for how long the licence fee agreement will last. A three year agreement, as some are proposing, would be a disaster and would give the BBC no security to plan its future during the switch to digital.

"Too much uncertainty remains and could blight the prospects of the BBC remaining the world's pre-eminent public service broadcaster."