Committee visit MediaCityUK to investigate BBC's national and regional work

• Inquiry: BBC Charter Renewal: public purposes and licence fee
• Select Committee on Communications

The evidence sessions will take place on Thursday 29 October at the BBC's Quay House in MediaCityUK, Salford.

First panel

At 11.00am:

• Jenny Baxter, Chief Operating Officer, BBC England
• Peter Johnston, Director, BBC Northern Ireland

Second panel

At 12 noon:

• Ken MacQuarrie, Director, BBC Scotland
• Rhys Evans, Head of Digital and Strategy, BBC Wales

Third panel

At 2.00pm:

• Richard Williams, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Screen
• Caroline Norbury, Chief Executive, Creative England

Fourth panel

At 3.00pm:

• Hywel Wiliam, Member of the Media Policy Group, Institute of Welsh Affairs

Possible questions

In the first two sessions, the Committee explores issues including:

• the representation of regional talent both on and off air
• the importance of local news provision to local communities
• the issues surrounding local language programming, including the BBC's current understanding of 'catering for the nations'
• how effectively it is made accountable to the BBC Trust for the fulfilment of the purposes.

In the second two sessions, the Committee investigates a number of areas including:

• the effect of devolved powers as they affect the broadcasting industry
• whether the BBC is fulfilling its public purposes in relation to their regions
• what they think of the argument that the BBC hinders commercial operators
• their reaction to the BBC Trust's proposal to change the wording of the public purposes.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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