BBC STRIKE AND THE LICENCE FEE

That this House believes that the recent BBC strike caused significant inconvenience for licence fee-payers; notes that licence fee-payers had no say over the strike action; concludes therefore that the case is stronger than ever for the BBC licence fee to be democratised allowing ordinary people who pay the licence fee to have a vote on BBC affairs, to elect the BBC Board and Chairman, agree the annual Report and have some say over programme making; further concludes that licence fee-payers should also approve the level of BBC salaries and pensions, especially those of the BBC's highly-paid executives and celebrities; further notes that administration costs could be kept low if licence fee-payers voted via the Internet with a special personal identification number; concludes that the BBC cannot continue without genuine public consultation, when other public institutions are becoming accountable and transparent; and therefore calls on the Government to put power in the hands of licence fee-payers and to give them the freedom to choose the BBC they want.