Centre for Media and Culture in Small Nations

University of South Wales

Submission to Communities, Equality & Local Government Committee regarding draft revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the BBC, the UK and Welsh Governments, and the Assembly.

1) We welcome overall the concept of a revised Memorandum of Understanding between the DCMS and the Welsh Government and National Assembly in the context of BBC’s Royal Charter. It is important that as Wales’ and the UK’s largest public service broadcasters, the BBC’s Charter is closely scrutinised at both UK and national levels.

2) It is an important principle that BBC service delivery for Wales is a matter of legitimate interest of Welsh Government and National Assembly for Wales and they should therefore possess formal consultative roles at all stages of Charter review.

3) By the same token, DCMS consultation with Welsh Government throughout the process of Charter review should help identify and address the significance of any proposed changes to the governance of BBC to Wales specifically.

4) The draft MoU falls short in the specific matter of the submission of annual reports and accounts. As it stands, the draft MoU requires only that the generic BBC annual report and audited accounts be set before the National Assembly for Wales.

5) A more robust and helpful document on which to base the review of the BBC’s service delivery for wales would be a Wales-specific annual report. This would provide AMs and Welsh Government with a more precise basis upon which to assess the BBC’s performance and contribution to broadcasting and civic life in Wales. Given the structure of the BBC, it is unclear why such an annual report and accounts have not been named in this draft MoU.

Dr Ruth McElroy,

Director, Centre for Media and Culture in Small Nations

February 24^th , 2106