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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Freeze licence fee, says Cameron | Freeze licence fee, says Cameron |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron has called for the BBC licence fee to be frozen for one year. | Conservative leader David Cameron has called for the BBC licence fee to be frozen for one year. |
| He said it was up to the corporation and other public bodies to "set an example" by keeping costs in check during the economic downturn. | He said it was up to the corporation and other public bodies to "set an example" by keeping costs in check during the economic downturn. |
| Mr Cameron said the BBC was an "important national institution" which had to "prosper" and to remain a "fantastic cultural asset" to the UK. | Mr Cameron said the BBC was an "important national institution" which had to "prosper" and to remain a "fantastic cultural asset" to the UK. |
| Colour TV licences, currently £139.50 a year, are to rise by £3 from 1 April. | Colour TV licences, currently £139.50 a year, are to rise by £3 from 1 April. |
| Black and white licences will increase by £1 to £48 a year. | Black and white licences will increase by £1 to £48 a year. |
| Speaking at his monthly press conference, Mr Cameron said the freeze should happen immediately. | Speaking at his monthly press conference, Mr Cameron said the freeze should happen immediately. |
| 'Makes sense' | |
| He added: "The government made its decision in 2007, in quite different circumstances, to set out in the increase in the licence fee for years ahead. I think the situation has changed since then... | He added: "The government made its decision in 2007, in quite different circumstances, to set out in the increase in the licence fee for years ahead. I think the situation has changed since then... |
| "[It was made] on the basis that the BBC needed to keep up with the rising [advertising] revenues for other broadcasters... | "[It was made] on the basis that the BBC needed to keep up with the rising [advertising] revenues for other broadcasters... |
| "I think it makes sense now to review the situation and that we need to freeze the licence fee this year." | "I think it makes sense now to review the situation and that we need to freeze the licence fee this year." |
| He also said: "We are not cutting it, just freezing it." | He also said: "We are not cutting it, just freezing it." |
| He added that he was a " supporter of the licence fee", but argued that, with declines in revenues for channels funded by advertising and subscriptions, it was important to avoid creating a system which was "not in balance". | He added that he was a " supporter of the licence fee", but argued that, with declines in revenues for channels funded by advertising and subscriptions, it was important to avoid creating a system which was "not in balance". |
| He said: "The BBC is an important national institution. I want to see it prosper and succeed and be a fantastic cultural asset." | He said: "The BBC is an important national institution. I want to see it prosper and succeed and be a fantastic cultural asset." |
| Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Don Foster said: "It's a sad reflection of the Tory party that the best it has to offer taxpayers in the economic downturn is £3 off their licence fee. | |
| "With many viewers staying at home a lot more during the recession, it really doesn't seem the right time to be cutting the quality of our television programmes." |