Mass Media
12th January 2012
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with the First Minister of the Welsh Government on the future of the media in Wales; and if she will make a statement.
Mr David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), has regular meetings with the First Minister to discuss a range of matters affecting Wales media issues.
I welcome the S4C and BBC Trust's announcement on 25 October 2011, which confirmed their agreement on the details of the partnership announced in the spending review and licence fee settlement. I would like to congratulate both parties for agreeing the details that have protected the editorial and managerial independence of S4C, while safeguarding the accountability of the BBC Trust for the licence fee.
The Government are also keen to ensure that the public have access to localised media, which is why we announced on 13 December that Cardiff and Swansea will be among the first 20 UK cities to trial the Local TV model, with Bangor and Mold included in a second tranche.
All media platforms in Wales, be it newspapers, radio, broadcasting or internet based, are important, which is why we are also undertaking a wide-scale review of the regulatory framework supporting the UK communications sector. The review will focus on establishing ways in which Government can drive growth and innovation in the sector by stripping away unnecessary red tape and removing barriers to growth.
