failures claimed over olympics
That reference to the funding of broad- crease in their grant. “It is perfectly rea-
cast services highlights an area of Con- sonable that charges should not be re-
The burden of the Olympics
servative policy which is at odds with introduced on that basis. Charging for No assessment of the CMS role would
that of the government. entry would be retrograde step as num- be complete without at least one refer-
The Shadow DCMS team challenges bers have increased in the meantime by ence to the London Olympics, now less
the business case made in the Digital between 50% and 80%.” than 1000 days from their opening.
Britain report for £100 million of the TV Whichever party wins the next General
licence fee to be diverted to support what Election will be in power in 2012; shoul-
have traditionally been the ‘independ-
Differentiating Conservatives
dering the responsibility for an event
ent’ broadcasters deliver competitive The frisson of conflict over Alan Sugar which has suffered more than its share
public sector services such as local may now have passed: the arguments of political controversy.
news. provoked by Digital Britain will no doubt Whether Hunt holds the DCMS Secre-
“This argument is inconsistent with continue to be pored over by communi- tary’s job at the time is immaterial: there
claims by the BBC that it needs an extra cations analysts, leaving little for the has been a consistent line from the Con-
£68 million of licence fee revenue to Shadow DCMS team to take issue over servatives on how the present adminis-
fulfil its core business.” with Labour. tration has failed to build on the Olym-
Mr Hunt maintains that if there is Jeremy Hunt still seeks to differenti- pic ‘edifice’ for which it is responsible.
capacity to release £100 million to the ate his party’s line from that of the present “We have been very critical of the Gov-
independent sector, then it should be re- government. “The most significant differ- ernment’s approach to a lasting legacy
funded to the licence payers, arguing ence is our perception of quality and how from 2012. They have done virtually noth-
that three quarters of them are in sup- to maintain it in the broadcast media. ing about securing a sporting legacy for
port of such an action. We have reached the point where PSB the whole country. If we are spending
How far does he believe that such con- is suffering badly due to under-funding: nearly £10 billion on the Games the
siderations influence voting intentions ITV as a whole last year had a smaller whole country has a right to expect to
when there are more fundamental issues advertising turnover than Google. benefit.
on which the main parties are divided? “Economic forces have to be allowed Getting more young people to play
“When many families are facing financial to operate, however. It is not the role of sport is a great aim but the Government
difficulties then any help Government Government to define what people has failed to do much about it. In con-
can give will be welcome. Reducing the watch, but create a structure where there trast we have promised to reform the
licence fee would fall into that category.” is scope for competition at the quality National Lottery, returning it to its origi-
end of the market.” nal good causes. This could release an
Broad cross-party consensus
additional £40m a year for sport, much
of which we’d like to put towards ensur-
Away from the dissention surrounding ing we secure the sporting legacy this
Sir Alan Sugar and the Digital Britain Government promised us.”
report, there is probably little to differ- DCMS is clearly not the largest Minis-
entiate government and opposition terial brief in terms of its annual budget
stance on the principles underlying cul- or resources employed. But it is one of
ture and the media. the more diverse. With the support of his
As an illustration, Jeremy Hunt and his shadow ministerial team, Jeremy Hunt
team are in favour of retaining free has taken every opportunity to demon-
admission to museums, for example, ar- strate the contribution that CMS makes
guing that when entry charges were to the political landscape. His star is in
removed, the museums received an in- the ascendant. §
Mr Hunt believes that claims by the BBC that it needs an extra £68 million of licence fee revenue is
inconsistent with the notion that £100 million of funds can be released to the independent sector
The Informed Executive
39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56