Cuts At The BBC

EDM number 83 in 2005-06, proposed by Austin Mitchell on 17/05/2005.

That this House condemns the proposed cuts at the BBC which will lead to 19 per cent. of staff being sacked or outsourced; is concerned that such cuts will result in 80 per cent. of the staff having to produce 100 per cent. of the output; believes such proposals will result in a deterioration of quality; further condemns the fact that hundreds of journalists, news-gatherers, researchers, production staff and programme-makers will be sacked whilst not one single member of TV News management will lose their job; believes such a proposal will deliver less value for licence fee payers and put at risk the BBC's continuing right to the licence fee; and therefore calls on BBC management to reconsider its proposals and negotiate with staff representatives to ensure changes do not damage programmes or quality.

This motion has been signed by a total of 46 MPs.